St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

When The Domino’s Village opened in October of 2023, Caron Byrd, JD, vice president of Housing & Patient Services, watched as patients, families and colleagues marveled at the newly built, 140-unit housing facility at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Several years in the making, Byrd played a central role in planning the facility, collaborating with departments across the institution to create an exceptionally supportive environment for kids and parents alike. “It was one of the best things I’ve done,” Byrd said. “I’m especially proud of The Domino’s Village.” She attributes the success in the first year of the building to one key guiding principle—respect. Byrd has lived this value through all her major projects since joining the St. Jude staff eight years ago. Target House and Tri-Delta Place already have her fingerprints on them and The Domino’s Village was no different, taking input from patient families to create a supportive environment during challenging times. The process, she recalls, was one of collaboration and learning. “Many different colleagues were around the table,” she said. “I had to understand their different skillsets and expertise and value their input. When you lead with respect, it’s a lot easier to work with those colleagues again.” Opening The Domino’s Village was the culmination of years of listening, learning and teamwork. Scouting trips to similar facilities across the country informed its design, from the inclusion of a food services operation to two bathrooms in the two-bedroom apartments—features families said they needed the most. Each year, St. Jude recognizes employees, nominated by their coworkers, who embody the seven core values that drive the institution. These stories show that the values are lived through the actions and commitment to our patients, their families and each other. Byrd was honored for always being respectful of her coworkers, our patients and their families, and visitors to campus.

As the year ends, we’re reflecting on groundbreaking research from St. Jude scientists in 2024. In this #ResearchWrapUp, we’re spotlighting advances in understanding respiratory diseases and their broader implications. Highlights include showing that Oleoyl-ACP-hydrolase (OLAH) drives severe disease outcomes, uncovering a molecular mimicry mechanism linking SARS-CoV-2 infections to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), demonstrating how metabolic health impacts influenza vaccine efficacy and identifying bats as potential intermediate hosts for zoonotic influenza viruses. These findings deepen our understanding of immune responses, vaccine optimization and zoonotic risks, equipping researchers and clinicians with vital insights to address global health challenges. St. Jude remains at the forefront of research, driving discoveries that improve outcomes for children worldwide. Swipe to see this year’s discoveries in respiratory diseases. #StJudeResearch #ChildrensHospital #YearInReview #RespiratoryDisease

For the fifth year, Jude Lights brought the holiday spirit to life as patients, employees and their families celebrated the season with a dazzling drive-thru light display. This year’s 15-minute car ride through campus’ winter wonderland featured several new additions, including a 32-foot Santa hat and 26-foot ornament tree as well as a colorful carousel and sweet treats on Candy Lane. Our patients traveled across campus by car or on foot, pausing for photos with the train, at the dog park and more. Jude Lights continues to be a cherished tradition, bringing joy, connection and holiday magic to the St. Jude community!

For decades, pneumococcal infections have been a leading cause of pediatric mortality worldwide. Current vaccines, while lifesaving, fall short of protecting against all pneumococcal strains. At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Elaine Tuomanen, MD, has pioneered a breakthrough approach, targeting a protein common to all strains: choline-binding protein A (CbpA). “We set out to find if there was something in common among those 100 types that we could target,” said Tuomanen. Her discovery led to the development of a universal pneumonia vaccine that targets vulnerabilities in pneumococcus and related bacteria. Collaboration with the St. Jude Department of Structural Biology revealed the structure of CbpA, enabling researchers to design a fusion protein vaccine. Preclinical models showed strong protective results, and by 2023, a company had launched a phase 1 clinical trial. This achievement underscores the importance of research infrastructure such as the St. Jude Good Manufacturing Practice facility, which ensures laboratory discoveries can be translated into clinical innovations. “If you want to build a pipeline for innovation and new products to be tested in children, then you have to take it farther than just the bench,” Tuomanen explained. Learn how this research is bringing us closer to universal protection against pneumonia that could save lives worldwide. https://ow.ly/qgF650Uqhqr #Pneumonia #GlobalHealth

At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, every effort centers on advancing treatments for children with catastrophic diseases. For Michael Rusch, director of Bioinformatics Software Development in Computational Biology, this mission inspires his work every day. Rusch’s role involves building tools, infrastructure and systems that enable researchers to uncover lifesaving insights, reinforcing the hospital's core value. “This is exactly where I’m supposed to be and exactly what I’m supposed to be doing,” Rusch shared. “The work that we do is collaborative, and everyone here is so excellent in so many different ways. When you bring all of those things together, we can do some things that are really cool.” Rusch leads efforts across three major areas: computational analysis for genomics research, clinical genomics for patient care, and St. Jude Cloud, a platform for sharing data and tools worldwide. His work underpins transformative projects like the Pediatric Cancer Dependencies Accelerator, which aims to address gaps in understanding the biological basis of childhood cancer. By helping establish technical foundations for this initiative, Rusch and his team are advancing critical research that holds the potential to improve treatments for children around the globe. “A lot of the things we build are infrastructure or tools,” he explained. “When we build something and I see someone using it to make a discovery or gain insights to treat a patient, that’s inspiring. It leads me to think about the next thing we can do to take the next step forward and continue making a difference.” This forward-thinking approach ensures that the tools and infrastructure built today will continue to support lifesaving discoveries well into the future. His work demonstrates that at St. Jude, even behind-the-scenes efforts can have a profound impact on the future of childhood cancer treatment. Each year, St. Jude recognizes employees, nominated by their coworkers, who embody the seven core values that drive the institution. These stories show that the values are lived through the actions and commitment to our patients, their families and each other. Rusch was honored for always recognizing that advancing treatment for children with catastrophic diseases is at the center of everything we do.

As the year ends, we’re reflecting on the compelling research that St. Jude scientists accomplished this year. In our latest 2024 #ResearchWrapUp, we’re highlighting advances in molecular biology. Throughout the year, St. Jude researchers leveraged cutting-edge techniques to uncover critical insights into cellular processes. Highlights include using structural biology to guide drug discovery for conditions including gout, identifying unique mechanisms behind ultrafast neurotransmission, and revealing how the primary cilium or “cell antenna” is structurally maintained. These discoveries connect fundamental molecular mechanisms to real-world health challenges, providing a path toward novel therapies. The work also reaffirms St. Jude as a leader in using molecular biology to improve outcomes for children worldwide. Swipe to see this year’s discoveries in molecular biology. #ResearchWrapUp #MolecularBiology #StJude #YearInReview #ChildhoodCancer

Individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q) face up to a 30-fold increased risk of developing schizophrenia. Research from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has uncovered an unexpected contributor: skull malformations caused by the absence of the Tbx1 gene. While Tbx1 is not expressed in the brain, its role in bone formation indirectly affects neurological development. This gene deletion inhibits the formation of the skull pocket housing the flocculus and paraflocculus, critical regions of the cerebellum. Their malformation disrupts key functions like the vestibular-ocular reflex, which is essential for face recognition—an ability often impaired in schizophrenia. “It’s like a steppingstone. We hope to follow this chain of events from the malformed skull to the underdeveloped flocculus and paraflocculus to the auditory cortex dysfunction,” said Stanislav Zakharenko, MD, PhD. Studying normal brain development provides insights into the missteps that lead to brain disorders and catastrophic diseases, such as malignant pediatric brain tumors. These studies also reveal clues about typical development that may have clinical and practical applications in unexpected fields. This particular study lays the groundwork for deeper exploration into the genetic and anatomical origins of schizophrenia. https://ow.ly/4fPX50UnFGy

As the year ends, we’re reflecting on the compelling research that St. Jude scientists accomplished this year. In our first 2024 #ResearchWrapUp, we’re sharing advances in sickle cell disease. Throughout the year, St. Jude worked to improve treatments, bridge gaps, and provide training for higher quality care. Highlights include improving myocardial fibrosis in sickle cell patients through bone marrow transplantation, understanding the value of short transitions between pediatric and adult sickle cell care and training nurses to better recognize pain crises. Additionally, the National Academy of Medicine recognized Mitchell J. Weiss, MD, PhD, St. Jude Hematology chair, and a leader in gene editing research for the treatment of sickle cell and other diseases, for his leadership and innovation. Swipe to see this year’s discoveries in sickle cell research. #ResearchWrapUp #SickleCell #StJude #YearInReview #ChildhoodCancer

Join St. Jude and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society on March 5-7, 2025, for the Pediatric Infectious Disease Conference. For over 20 years, the PIDS conference has highlighted research as a career for pediatric infectious disease specialists. The three-day event features leaders in the field of Infectious Diseases and features Pediatric ID Research, Transplant/ Immunocompromised Hosts, Infectious Diseases, Career Development and Global Health. The conference will be held on the St. Jude campus. Virtual options are available. Register to attend: https://lnkd.in/gubxgyBt. Abstracts must be submitted by Sunday, December 8, at 11 p.m. CT.

The rise of drug-resistant fungal infections is a growing concern, particularly for immunocompromised patients. David Rogers, PharmD, PhD, chair of the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Jeffrey M. Rybak, PharmD, PhD, assistant member in the department, are leading efforts to tackle this issue at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Globally, 6.5 million cases of invasive fungal infections occur annually, with 2.5 million resulting in death. The limited arsenal of antifungal therapies—triazoles, polyenes, and echinocandins—makes resistance a critical problem. Rogers and Rybak are working to understand the genetic and molecular basis of resistance while exploring novel treatment approaches. “Our research informs drug discovery and helps predict patient outcomes,” Rogers explains. Alongside collaborators, they use genomic tools to study resistant pathogens and participate in the International Pediatric Fungal Network to improve diagnostics and care. The unique model at St. Jude—combining research, patient care, and global partnerships—positions the institution to lead a “medical mycology moonshot”. Through prevention, next-generation diagnostics and innovative therapies, progress is transforming outcomes for the most vulnerable patients. Learn more about how St. Jude approaches fungal infections: https://ow.ly/R33Z50UgUes #AntifungalResearch #PharmaceuticalSciences #InfectiousDiseases #GlobalHealth #MedicalInnovation