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

It is better to be safe than fast when it comes to the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.
It is better to be safe than fast when it comes to the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Research

COVID-19 vaccine development: better safe than fast

Stacey Schultz-Cherry, PhD

This is the most important thing to remember about vaccines for COVID-19 and other diseases going through clinical trials.

St. Jude families give valuable insights through virtual adviser community
St. Jude families give valuable insights through virtual adviser community
Clinical

St. Jude families provide valuable insights to staff through virtual adviser community

Mike O’Kelly

As a hospital staff member, how do you help patient families have a better clinical experience and quality of life while in the hospital?

Can common nasal bacteria be targeted to slow flu transmission? Maybe.
Can common nasal bacteria be targeted to slow flu transmission? Maybe.
Research

Can common nasal bacteria be targeted to slow flu transmission? Maybe.

Mary Powers

This new study shows that flu transmission and infection could be slowed or prevented by this simple technique.

T-Cell therapy may bridge treatment gap for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia
T-Cell therapy may bridge treatment gap for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia
Research

T-Cell therapy may bridge treatment gap for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia

Paulina Velasquez, MD

This clinical trial may be the key for leukemia patients getting a curative bone marrow transplant.

SMARCB1: Genetic ‘canary in a coal mine’ sparks research
SMARCB1: Genetic ‘canary in a coal mine’ sparks research
Research

SMARCB1: Genetic ‘canary in a coal mine’ sparks research

Erin Podolak, MA

Scientist spent more than a decade finding out how this genetic mutation causes different cancers.

image of Nobel medal
image of Nobel medal
Investigator Insights

Nobel laureate Emmanuelle Charpentier's major impact on science and medicine

Mike O’Kelly

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has ties to this year’s co-recipient of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

Lennie Lott: Opening Doors, Saving Lives
Lennie Lott: Opening Doors, Saving Lives
Investigator Insights

Lennie Lott: Opening Doors, Saving Lives

Summer Freeman

Read how this African American clinician and researcher has broken medical and community barriers down for the past 40 years.

Let people with sickle cell disease inform clinical trial communication
Let people with sickle cell disease inform clinical trial communication
Clinical

Let people with sickle cell disease inform clinical trial communication

Liza-Marie Johnson, MD, MPH, MSB

Read how these clinicians are addressing the serious ethical challenges to accelerating a cure for sickle cell disease.

Surviving the edge of life: My journey with ICU recovery
Surviving the edge of life: My journey with ICU recovery
Investigator Insights

Surviving the edge of life: My journey with ICU recovery

Kristin Canavera, PhD

Read how this psychologist's admission to the ICU after complications from a surgery shaped her work with ICU patients.

Childhood Solid Tumor Network moves to the cloud with additional data and analytic tools
Childhood Solid Tumor Network moves to the cloud with additional data and analytic tools
Research

Childhood Solid Tumor Network moves to the cloud with additional data and analytic tools

Mary Powers

Scientists interested in studying pediatric solid tumors now have this comprehensive, interactive online shop for patient-derived tumor information.