St. Jude Research

Research

Learn about published research as well as leading-edge basic and translational research initiatives from St. Jude laboratories.

mTORC1, the ‘Sorting Hat’ of the thymic school
mTORC1, the ‘Sorting Hat’ of the thymic school

mTORC1, the ‘Sorting Hat’ of the thymic school

 Daniel Bastardo-Blanco

House of blood or house of guts? Read how this internal Sorting Hat decides where cells go.

The SILver Lining: The yin-yang balance of proteins in Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome
The SILver Lining: The yin-yang balance of proteins in Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome

The SILver Lining: The yin-yang balance of proteins in muscle disease

 Viraj Ichhaporia

Ever heard of Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome? A St. Jude lab found the mutation that causes it.

New studies raise concerns with CRISPR-Cas9, but there's more to the story
New studies raise concerns with CRISPR-Cas9, but there's more to the story

New studies raise warnings with CRISPR-Cas9, but there's more to the story

 Shondra Pruett-Miller, PhD

Recent studies highlight efficacy and safety issues of CRISPR. While the results are important, read why we should wait before drawing conclusions.

59,000 Volunteers and a team of scientists uncover inherited gene mutations for medulloblastoma
59,000 Volunteers and a team of scientists uncover inherited gene mutations for medulloblastoma

All in the family: How 59,000 volunteers and a team of scientists helped uncover six inherited gene mutations for medulloblastoma

 Paul Northcott, PhD

There were 110 suspect genes. We found the six that could lead to childhood brain tumors.

New discoveries are simply that and must withstand the test of time
New discoveries are simply that and must withstand the test of time

New discoveries are simply that and must withstand the test of time

 Charles Rock, PhD

You really trust the ‘latest and greatest?’ Over-hyped scientific discoveries that haven’t been thoroughly tested create false hope for cures.

Statistical hypothesis testing: minimize bias and ensure your results are significant
Statistical hypothesis testing: minimize bias and ensure your results are significant

Statistical hypothesis testing: minimize bias and help ensure your results are significant

 Charles Rock, PhD

Don’t fall for the trap: Follow these 4 steps to help ensure your experimental results are statistically significant.

Hydroxyurea: How much is too much for sickle cell patients?
Hydroxyurea: How much is too much for sickle cell patients?

Hydroxyurea: How much is too much? Sickle cell study reveals individualized dosage leads to decreased hospitalizations

 Lee Morgan

Federally-funded study of hydroxyurea shows that a long-held medication convention isn’t best for pediatric sickle cell patients.

CAR T cells: Are they the horizon for treatment of solid tumors?
CAR T cells: Are they the horizon for treatment of solid tumors?

CAR T cells: Are they on the horizon for treatment of solid tumors?

 Mary Powers

Ongoing research on CAR T-cell therapy, heralded as a miracle cure, shows promise for treating solid tumors. How close are we?

Memory T cells hang back from the front lines of the fight, and live to lead the fight when a pathogen returns
Memory T cells hang back from the front lines of the fight, and live to lead the fight when a pathogen returns

Cells trained to recognize returning infections

 Ben Youngblood, PhD

The former killers now recognize the enemy when it returns — and you’re better off because of it.

Skinny-Gene Clue Leads to Rhabdomyosarcoma Breakthrough
Skinny-Gene Clue Leads to Rhabdomyosarcoma Breakthrough

Fat Chance: 'Skinny Gene' research unexpectedly leads to tumor breakthrough

 Mark Hatley, MD, PhD

A wrong turn in fat research uncovered an important clue to pinpoint an origin of the most prevalent soft tissue cancer in children.