St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is known throughout the world for its clinical and scientific contributions to the fight against catastrophic childhood diseases. As a result, people throughout the world come to visit the hospital to learn about its remarkable history.
About St. Jude
Description - 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 hospital's mission is to provide unsurpassed patient care and to advance the health of children through biomedical research.
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 and genetic disorders.
Current research - The current basic and clinical research at St. Jude Hospital includes work in gene therapy, 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 illnesses. St. Jude Hospital also conducts long-term biostatistical investigations on its patients and is the only pediatric research hospital supported by a National Cancer Institute cancer center support grant.
Patients - More than 4,000 patients are seen at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital yearly, most of whom are treated on a continuing outpatient basis as part of ongoing research programs and account for more than 35,000 hospital visits per year. The hospital also maintains 50 beds for patients requiring hospitalization during treatment.
To date, St. Jude Hospital has treated more than 14,000 children from across the United States and 57 foreign countries - from Argentina to China.
Patients at St. Jude Hospital are accepted by physician referral when the child or adolescent is newly diagnosed or suspected of having a disease under research and treatment by the St. Jude Hospital staff. Patients who have relapsed after prior therapy in other settings may be accepted if they are eligible for enrollment on a St. Jude protocol.
The American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC) covers all costs of care beyond those reimbursable by third party payments and total costs when no insurance is available. After an initial evaluation, assistance with transportation and local living expenses can be provided.
Founding - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas and opened in 1962. It is supported primarily by funds from volunteer contributions raised by ALSAC. The national fund-raising organization was established by Danny Thomas expressly for the purpose of funding St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. St. Jude Hospital also receives assistance from federal grants (mainly through the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute), insurance and investments.
Operations - Operations are overseen by the Board of Governors and Directors. The research activities are reviewed annually by the Scientific Advisory Board, composed of internationally prominent physicians and scientists.
Outreach - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a member of The Pediatric Oncology Group and a contributor to the Pediatric Training Program. It collaborates with hospitals worldwide on research and is developing international outreach assistance facilities in El Salvador, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Venezuela, China and Russia and has formal affiliations with hospitals in Peoria, Illinois; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Shreveport, Louisiana; Johnson City, Tennessee; and Montreal, Quebec.
If you have further questions, please e-mail St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at info@stjude.org or call the public relations department at (901) 495-3306.
