Heather Mefford, MD, PhD
Faculty, Department of Cell & Molecular Biology
Heather Mefford, MD, PhD, is a faculty member in the Department of Cell & Molecular Biology at St. Jude.
Stories by Heather Mefford
Genetic variations in a fourth gene linked to elevated leukemia risk in Hispanic children
Read how ancestry plays a role in determining your risk for cancer. In the case of Hispanic children, researchers found an increased risk of leukemia.
Gene therapy: Scientific breakthrough and a legacy of a cure
Read about the work from a goal – to a treatment – to a cure – and one scientist’s legacy.
Pediatric melanoma mystery solved by genome sequencing research
Two pediatric melanoma cases diagnosed a year apart reveal a new genetic driver of the disease. Read more about this spitzoid melanoma work.
From evolutionary biology to immunology via bioinformatics
Immunologists turn to Jeremy Crawford, PhD, when planning complex experiments or re-analyzing collected data. Learn about his bioinformatics career.
Researchers identify new molecular triggers for cell’s 'executioner'
Read how this molecule rips the “skin” of the cell to kill it, and how research is learning how this power is unleased.
The HPV vaccine can prevent more than 31,000 cancer cases a year. This is why I care so much.
The HPV vaccine can prevent more than 31,000 cancer cases a year. After losing a friend to cancer, I made sure her children were protected from the virus.
Bringing your science out of the journal and into the world
Using these five tips in communicating science will lead to positive feelings, more awareness and credibility.
What hidden hazards lie beneath the surface of genome editing?
Are you sure? Understanding the possible traps and dangers with gene editing.
Commitment to excellence: Building a world-class Structural Biology Department at St. Jude
Read how this rapidly evolving area of science seeks to change the way we look at the world.
With Brian Sorrentino, it was about more than just the science
His work to discover a cure for SCID revealed his talent as a scientist and collaborator. Read about his discovery and why it’s bittersweet.