St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Every day, nurses see how disease and treatment affect patients in ways that may not always be captured in a protocol or publication. Those observations can become questions that lead to new evidence that changes practice. When Brittany Bedard, RN, cared for a patient undergoing radiation therapy who faced a high risk of severe esophageal mucositis, she searched for evidence-based interventions that could help reduce this painful side effect. Finding little published research, Bedard partnered with Belinda Mandrell, PhD, RN, and Hannah Clugh, RN, in the St. Jude Division of Nursing Research to investigate whether photobiomodulation therapy could support the patient during treatment. Drawing on expertise developed through years of nursing-led research, the team designed a novel protocol and carefully monitored its impact. The patient experienced minimal pain, maintained nutrition without supplemental feeding and completed therapy without interruptions related to mucositis toxicities. The work builds on broader St. Jude nursing research efforts that have already demonstrated the effectiveness of photobiomodulation in reducing oral mucositis among patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation. As those findings have gained attention, interest in developing similar programs has expanded across pediatric health care. “We were really on the forefront and the first to get this started and really show that, within pediatrics, photobiomodulation is feasible and it has significant efficacy,” Mandrell said. Stories such as this demonstrate the important role nurses play in clinical research. By identifying unmet needs and exploring new solutions, nursing researchers help advance care for patients today and in the future.

Great institutions don’t just state their values. They put them into action. Throughout her career in hospital operations, Maria Papola Megdal has valued mission-driven organizations. That's why the values of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital stood out. As executive vice president and chief administrative officer, Megdal oversees many of the teams and operations that help power the institution's research, treatment and global mission. But a commitment to stewardship first drew her to St. Jude when she joined in 2024. "The first time I read the St. Jude values, I felt like someone was talking to me," Megdal said. “Seeing that stewardship was written into the values meant a lot to me.” After leading operations in complex academic health care and research organizations, Megdal recognized the importance of thoughtful resource management. At St. Jude, she found an institution where stewardship is a shared responsibility that helps ensure every contribution advances the mission of finding cures and saving children. For Megdal, seeing the institution's values reflected in everyday decisions across teams reinforces what makes St. Jude unique: a culture where people are united by purpose and committed to honoring the trust of donors, patients and families.

The Science of Childhood Cancer virtual lecture series returns this Thursday for the start of its Fall 2026 season, bringing together experts from across the cancer research continuum to discuss discoveries that are advancing our understanding of pediatric cancer. Hosted by the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center, the 15-week series opens with the Rising Stars of Cancer Research lecture, featuring Elvin Wagenblast, PhD, and Matthew Witkowski, PhD, who will share their innovative work in leukemia. Additional August speakers include David Teachey, MD, who will discuss ongoing research in hematologic malignancies, and Sarah-Maria Fendt, PhD, who will present her latest research in cancer biology. Join us each Thursday at noon CT/1 p.m. ET to hear from leading investigators, participate in live discussions and connect with the scientific community. Register for the free series today: bit.ly/4fRJsWM

Are you a new graduate nurse looking for a meaningful start to your career? At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, nurses play a vital role in advancing our mission through exceptional patient care and support for groundbreaking research. Our Nurse Residency Program helps new graduate nurses build confidence, develop professionally and make a lasting impact on the lives of patients and families. Join us on August 12 at 5 PM CST for our annual webinar to learn how St. Jude supports new graduate nurses as they transition into their careers. Program leaders will share insights into the application process, program structure, Match Day, and more. Discover what it’s like to begin your nursing career at St. Jude and have your questions answered live. Applications for the Nurse Residency Program are open until September 1. Learn more and register for the webinar today! https://bit.ly/4q1g5WM

The newest class of students has officially joined the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. As they begin their graduate training, they become part of a community dedicated to advancing discovery and improving outcomes for children with catastrophic diseases worldwide. “St. Jude is here to generate knowledge and disseminate that knowledge, and this Graduate School is a key component of that purpose,” said James R. Downing, M.D., St. Jude president and CEO. “It is the start of a new chapter in your life, one where you will continue your education while focusing on making a difference in the world.” 

Although survival rates for childhood leukemias have improved significantly, those containing changes in the KMT2A gene often relapse with poor outcomes. Researchers at St. Jude and Nanjing University identified MBNL1, an RNA-binding protein, as essential for the proliferation of these leukemia cells. “We found that KMT2A-rearranged leukemia cells rely on MBNL1 to maintain expression of FLT3,” said Chunliang Li, PhD. “When we investigated how this occurred, we uncovered an unexpected mechanism that may provide several new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.” By detailing how MBNL1 contributes to leukemia growth, these findings highlight new opportunities for developing targeted treatments. Learn more about the study: bit.ly/4q14mHI

Advances in genomics, molecular profiling and computational biology are changing how pediatric cancers are understood. Increasingly, diagnosis provides more than an explanation about the disease itself. It offers insight into how cancer may behave, how a patient may respond to treatment, and what health challenges may emerge later in life. St. Jude researchers including Lu Wang, MD, PhD; Xin Zhou, PhD; Giles Robinson, MD; Ching-Hon Pui, MD; and Matt Ehrhardt, MD, MS, among others, are helping translate those discoveries into more personalized approaches to risk assessment, allowing clinicians to tailor care based on the unique characteristics of each patient and disease. “Risk assessment is fundamental to improving therapy,” Robinson said. “While cancer therapy has advanced, many curative treatments still rely on highly toxic and nonspecific therapies that take a huge toll on children.” By integrating genomic discoveries, treatment response data and survivorship research into clinical decision-making, St. Jude is tailoring cancer treatment upon diagnosis to secure the best outcomes for patients while minimizing toxicity as much as possible. Read more: bit.ly/4chqub5

Scientific discovery advances through curiosity, collaboration and the pursuit of difficult questions. The 2026 St. Jude Scientific Report highlights how researchers across the institution are expanding knowledge in pediatric catastrophic diseases while pushing the boundaries of research to improve care for children worldwide. This year's report features insights into cancer cell signaling, spinal muscular atrophy, protein imaging, blood disorders, avian influenza and biological maps. Together, these stories and many more reflect the breadth of research across the St. Jude enterprise. Explore the 2026 Scientific Report to see these discoveries through dynamic features that bring science to life and provide a closer look at the people, technologies and expertise driving progress. bit.ly/4xkQQRS

Hear from leading voices in pediatric cancer research when The Science of Childhood Cancer virtual lecture series returns Aug. 13 for its 13th season. Charles Mullighan, MBBS, MSc, MD, senior deputy director of the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center, invites scientists, clinicians and those interested in advancing childhood cancer research to attend the 15-week fall series. Experts will share the latest discoveries in basic, translational, clinical and population science. Lectures take place Thursdays at noon CT / 1 pm ET and include opportunities for live discussion during an extended Q&A session. Register for the free Fall 2026 season today: bit.ly/4c1kgMv

Last week, the St. Jude High School Research Immersion (HSRI) program concluded with student poster presentations on the St. Jude campus and at Rhodes College. Participants shared the results of research projects completed during their summer experience. Rising high school seniors from Memphis and surrounding counties spent eight weeks in mentored research environments across St. Jude, contributing to projects in 26 areas including laboratory, clinical and data science research. They developed technical skills, collaborated with research teams and learned how scientific questions are translated into research studies and discoveries. “Our department ethos is allowing every student to see themselves as a scientist. I think there are a lot of talented students that are never given an opportunity to be in a space so that they can see themselves there,” said Kyle Bichsel, PhD, HSRI program manager. “They come through this program and find a passion for research and latch onto the mission at St. Jude. Early exposure to that gives them an extra sense of accomplishment and contribution to something bigger.” As another cohort concludes its HSRI experience, the program’s lasting impact can be seen in the skills, confidence and scientific curiosity students carry forward into their academic and professional journeys.