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St. Jude Overview
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the world's premier centers for research and treatment of catastrophic diseases in children, primarily pediatric cancers.

Mission

The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our Founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.
Research Focus

Research efforts are directed at understanding the molecular, genetic and chemical bases of catastrophic diseases in children, identifying cures for such diseases and promoting their prevention. Research is focused specifically on cancers, acquired and inherited immunodeficiencies, infectious diseases and genetic disorders.
Current Research

The current basic and clinical research at St. Jude includes work in gene therapy, bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, the biochemistry of normal and cancerous cells, radiation treatment, blood diseases, resistance to therapy, viruses, hereditary diseases, influenza, pediatric AIDS and psychological effects of catastrophic diseases.

St. Jude also conducts long-term biostatistical investigations on its patients and is the only pediatric research hospital that has been awarded a National Cancer Institute cancer center support grant.

Expansion

St. Jude continues an extensive expansion program to bolster the hospital’s research / treatment efforts, while more than doubling the size of the original St. Jude campus. The expansion includes the Children's GMP, LLC, the nation’s only pediatric research center on-site facility for production of highly specialized treatments and vaccines; an expanded Department of Immunology; and a new Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics for discovery of new drugs. The new Chili's Care Center integrates patient care and research where rapidly evolving CT (computerized tomography) and MR (magnetic resonance) technologies will keep St. Jude at the cutting edge for radiation therapy in a pediatric / adolescent setting.
Patients

About 4,900 patients are seen at St. Jude yearly, most of whom are treated on a continuing outpatient basis as part of ongoing research programs. The hospital also maintains 60 beds for patients requiring hospitalization during treatment.

St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and from around the world.

Patients at St. Jude are accepted by physician referral when the children or adolescents are newly diagnosed or has a disease under research and treatment by the St. Jude staff.

St. Jude is the only pediatric research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay.

Founding

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas and opened in 1962. St. Jude is supported primarily by funds from volunteer contributions raised by its national fund-raising arm, ALSAC, which was established by Danny Thomas expressly for the purpose of funding St. Jude. The hospital also receives assistance from federal grants (mainly through the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute), insurance and investments.
Nobel Prize

One of the most significant events to occur at St. Jude happened in 1996 when Peter Doherty, PhD, Immunology, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine. He was recognized for key discoveries he made about the workings of the immune system. It is the highest award a scientist can win.
Operations

Operations are overseen by the Boards of Directors and Governors. The research activities are reviewed annually by the Scientific Advisory Board, composed of internationally prominent physicians and scientists.

The hospital's daily operating costs are approximately $1,267,349, which are primarily covered by public contributions. St. Jude has more than 3,130 employees.

Affiliates

St. Jude currently has five affiliate hospitals: the St. Jude Midwest Affiliate in Peoria, Illinois; LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louisiana; Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; the St. Jude Tri–Cities Affiliate in Johnson City, Tennessee; and Huntsville Women's and Children's Hospital in Huntsville, Alabama.