Author Profile

Heather Mefford, MD, PhD

Faculty, Department of Cell & Molecular Biology

Heather Mefford, MD, PhD

Heather Mefford, MD, PhD, is a faculty member in the Department of Cell & Molecular Biology at St. Jude.

Stories by Heather Mefford

Common astrovirus can lead to serious health problems
Common astrovirus can lead to serious health problems
Research

Common astrovirus can lead to serious health problems

Stacey Schultz-Cherry, PhD

This viral infection is so common nearly everyone has had it - and it can become deadly serious for those who have compromised immune systems.

Science begets science: The legacy of Betty Mortimer Roberts, PhD
Science begets science: The legacy of Betty Mortimer Roberts, PhD
Investigator Insights

Science begets science: Betty Mortimer Roberts, PhD

Elizabeth Jane Walker

Betty Roberts researched the science of hockey’s slap shot and football’s field goal kick – and it changed both sports forever.

Learning the connection between research and the people it helps
Learning the connection between research and the people it helps
Research

Learning the connection between research and the people it helps

Chris Pennington

St. Jude highlights Regina Kolaitis, PhD, who shares the moment she learned about the connection between her research and the people it helped.

Engaging partners to achieve HPV vaccination increases
Engaging partners to achieve HPV vaccination increases
Outreach

Engaging partners to achieve HPV vaccination increases

Andrea Stubbs

St. Jude is partnering with the community to increase awareness and understanding of HPV vaccinations to prevent HPV-related cancers.

Reducing deep sequencing errors to find residual cancer cells
Reducing deep sequencing errors to find residual cancer cells
Research

Reducing deep sequencing errors to find residual cancer cells

Xiaotu Ma, PhD

This new computational tool pinpoints errors in ultra deep sequencing to identify residual cancer cells that normal sequencing misses.

The life and legacy of Joseph Simone, MD
The life and legacy of Joseph Simone, MD
Investigator Insights

The life and legacy of Joseph Simone, MD

Elizabeth Jane Walker

St. Jude pays homage to a physician scientist who helped lead the first curative treatment for childhood leukemia.

Life-changing experience helped forge Jurbergs’ career
Life-changing experience helped forge Jurbergs’ career
Investigator Insights

Life-changing experience helped forge Jurbergs’ career in pediatric oncology

St. Jude Progress

Niki Jurbergs, PhD, shares how her health care career was shaped by an intense moment with a patient and family.

COVID and HPV: Getting back on track with HPV vaccination
COVID and HPV: Getting back on track with HPV vaccination
Outreach

COVID and HPV: Getting back on track with HPV vaccination

Melissa Hudson, MD and Kari Bjornard, MD

The COVID pandemic has halted the progress of preventive health care for teens. Most importantly, this one vaccine that can prevent cancer.

The current landscape and promising future of sickle cell disease therapy
The current landscape and promising future of sickle cell disease therapy
Research

The current landscape and promising future of sickle cell disease therapy

Jeremie Estepp, MD

Major advancements in sickle cell disease therapy hold a promising future for patients, including organ preservation and a possible cure.

Paramedic training framed career decision to become a physician
Paramedic training framed career decision to become a physician
Investigator Insights

Paramedic training framed career decision to become a physician

Chris Pennington

St. Jude highlights Holly Spraker-Perlman, MD, who credits working as a paramedic as inspiring her medical career.