QUARTERLY REPORT
Q3FY24
January–March 2024
PREPARED BY: Strategic Communication, Education and Outreach
The Strategic Communication, Education and Outreach team curates stories for press release using scientific impact and institutional strategic alignment as central criteria. The stories featured represent an esteemed fraction of discovery and accomplishment across the St. Jude research and clinical enterprise. Additional media engagement is pursued for each release, accompanied by promotion across our channels and platforms.
St. Jude investigators made great strides in Q3FY24 uncovering molecular mechanisms and therapeutic vulnerabilities in catastrophic pediatric diseases. Much of the work published involved interdisciplinary research efforts within, and outside, the institution. St. Jude thought leadership across scientific disciplines was apparent, with nearly every academic department represented in featured Q3 publications. Additionally, St. Jude’s commitment to collaborative science and academic training were reaffirmed with announcements on the expansion of the Research Collaboratives program and launch of the Damon Runyon-St. Jude Pediatric Cancer Research fellowship.
16
Media releases and announcements in Q3
1.29B
Media impressions in Q3
18
Academic departments featured in Q3 releases
Q3FY24: SELECT SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES
CELL
Elusive cytonemes guide neural development, provide signaling ‘express route’
• Mammalian development is carefully guided by signaling molecules known as morphogens, which are distributed in a gradient. It is unclear how these gradients are established across long distances, but disruption causes significant development defects.
• St. Jude researchers developed techniques to visualize long, thin, hair-like projections called cytonemes that contribute to forming morphogen gradients.
• Cytonemes serve as a “direct express route” to transport signals over long distances. This study was the first to visualize these routes and provide a model to understand their importance in other signaling pathways.
stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2024-medicine-science-news/elusive-cytonemes-guide-neuraldevelopment-signaling-express-route
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
Acute pediatric critical illness definition enables global research
• Globally, improvements in care for acute pediatric critical illness have been slow due largely to the lack of standardized criteria.
• St. Jude led a global group of 109 experts from 40 countries to reach an inclusive consensus definition of acute pediatric critical illness. Several international groups have already endorsed the definition.
• The common language of this standardized definition promises to improve data collection and research, ultimately leading to improvements in critical care globally.
stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2024-medicine-science-news/acute-pediatric-critical-illness-definitionenables-global-research
Jeff Klco, MD, PhD
NATURE GENETICS
Updated genomic landscape for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia enables new treatment possibilities
• Pediatric acute myeloid leukemias (pAML) are driven by genetic changes distinct from those in adult AML cases (which account for the majority of diagnoses and the primary source of our understanding of disease mechanism).
• Scientists at St. Jude used genetic analysis to characterize and classify pAML into 23 unique subtypes, including 12 previously undefined ones.
• Validating this classification system demonstrates a clear path to better risk stratification for patients with pAML and improved, more tailored treatments.
stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2024-medicine-science-news/updated-genomic-landscape-for-pediatricacute-myeloid-leukemia-enables-new-treatment-possibilities
Matthew Erhardt, MD, MS
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
Two common biomarkers predict heart risk in asymptomatic childhood cancer survivors
• Childhood cancer survivors who receive chemotherapy and chest-directed radiation have an elevated risk of developing long-term cardiac problems. Conventional screening methods are insufficient to capture asymptomatic changes in heart muscle function.
• Findings from the St. Jude lifetime cohort study (St. Jude LIFE) showed that adding two specific measures of heart function could predict increased risk in asymptomatic survivors.
• These measures could facilitate earlier identification and intervention for survivors of childhood cancer with a high risk of cardiac function decline.
stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2024-medicine-science-news/two-common-biomarkers-predict-heart-riskin-asymptomatic-childhood-cancer-survivors
Chunliang Li, PhD
GENOME BIOLOGY
HOXA9 tracking reveals RBM5 dual function and therapeutic potential for acute myeloid leukemia
• The protein HOXA9 is overexpressed in 70% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases and is associated with poor patient outcomes.
• Historically, HOXA9 has been considered undruggable. However, researchers at St. Jude used CRISPR/Cas9 screening to identify key regulators of HOXA9 that may present indirect targets for therapy.
• By degrading one such regulator, RBM5, scientists could reduce the expression of HOXA9 without compromising other critical functions.
• This work further supports the pursuit of regulators of “undruggable” proteins as therapeutic vulnerabilities in pediatric cancer.
stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2024-medicine-science-news/hoxa9-tracking-reveals-rbm5-dual-functionand-therapeutic-potential-for-acute-myeloid-leukemia
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
Molecular ‘super-glue’ shows promise of cancer drug discovery platform
• Cells recycle energy by degrading proteins they no longer need. These degradation mechanisms can be hijacked by “molecular glues” to target cancer-related proteins.
• One important and difficult-to-target protein in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is casein kinase 1 alpha (CK1α).
• St. Jude scientists identified a molecular glue, SJ3149, that is the first potent and selective CK1α degrader.
• The process of finding this compound can serve as a blueprint for identifying and optimizing molecular glues for other pediatric cancer targets.
stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2024-medicine-science-news/molecular-super-glue-shows-promise-ofcancer-drug-discovery-platform
CELL REPORTS MEDICINE
Novel bispecific design improves CAR T-cell immunotherapy for childhood leukemia
• Immunotherapy using modified chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has greatly improved survival rates for certain leukemias and lymphomas but has not been as effective in diseases subject to frequent relapses, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
• Most CAR T cells target one cancer-related protein, allowing cancer cells without that protein to escape. St. Jude investigators demonstrated a novel dual targeting approach, designing a single molecule that can recognize two potential cancer-related proteins and prevent immune escape.
• Using artificial intelligence, they confirmed the structural features that contribute to the efficacy of this novel approach, establishing a computational pipeline to evaluate future CAR T-cell therapy.
stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2024-medicine-science-news/novel-bispecific-design-improves-car-t-cellimmunotherapy-for-childhood-leukemia
Kim Nichols, MD
BLOOD
Rare inflammatory disease responds best to double inhibition
• Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare aggressive syndrome characterized by excessive immune response. Two key signaling molecules mediate this hyperactive inflammation: Janus kinase 1 and 2 (JAK1 and JAK2).
• Investigators at St. Jude showed that inhibiting both JAK1 and JAK2 with the drug ruxolitinib was more effective at increasing survival than inhibiting either protein alone.
• Treatment with ruxolitinib dampened the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation, metabolism and inflammatory signaling.
• Ruxolitinib is currently being tested in a clinical trial for HLH at St. Jude.
stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2024-medicine-science-news/rare-inflammatory-disease-responds-best-todouble-inhibition
Joseph Opferman, PhD
MOLECULAR CELL
Role in mitochondrial metabolism paints a more complete picture of MCL-1 fusion
• The MCL-1 gene is frequently upregulated in human cancers and codes for a protein inhibiting cancer cell death.
• Clinical trials of MCL-1 inhibitors resulted in unexpected and unexplained cardiac toxicities.
• St. Jude scientists found that MCL-1 also plays a role in directing fatty acids towards the oxidation pathway — a critical metabolic function.
• These findings shed light on a previously unappreciated role for MCL-1 and offer guidance to further clinical studies.
stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2024-medicine-science-news/role-in-mitochondrial-metabolism-paintsmore-complete-picture-of-mcl-1-function
Brian Abraham, PhD
CELL REPORTS MEDICINE
Scientists find core regulatory circuit controlling identity of aggressive leukemia
• Core regulatory circuits (CRCs) govern cell identity, making it possible for cancer to stay malignant.
• Scientists at St. Jude and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have, for the first time, mapped the CRC of aggressive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).
• Findings showed that almost all ALCL cell lines required dysregulation of the signaling protein STAT3. STAT3 worked with three other proteins as a CRC, controlling gene expression and cell identity in ALCL.
• This work provides insight into ALCL cell biology, offering future opportunities to find therapeutic vulnerabilities.
stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2024-medicine-science-news/scientists-find-core-regulatory-circuitcontrolling-identity-of-aggressive-leukemia
Jun Yang, MD, PhD
CELL REPORTS MEDICINE
Change in MYCN-driven cell state opens therapeutic window in high-risk neuroblastoma
• Amplification of the MCYN gene occurs in 25% of all neuroblastomas and 50% of high-risk cases.
• St. Jude scientists showed that the MYCN protein promotes a switch in the cellular state within the tumor microenvironment, resulting in faster growth.
• The change in cellular state coincides with an increase in KDM4, a protein that maintains the cell in its fast-growing state. The relationship between MYCN and KDM4 creates a positive feedback loop that keeps cells in an aggressive state.
• KDM4 inhibitors show potent anticancer activity by lowering the expression of MYCN. Blocking this positive feedback mechanism represents a potential therapeutic vulnerability in cancer.
stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2024-medicine-science-news/change-in-mycn-driven-cell-state-openstherapeutic-window-in-high-risk-neuroblastoma
Paul Thomas, PhD
CELL REPORTS MEDICINE
Immunotherapy targeting cancer fusion protein may hold key to treating rare liver cancer
• Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a rare liver cancer with an 80% relapse rate and for which no effective therapeutics exist.
• All FLC cases are caused by a mutation that joins two genes, creating a fusion protein that drives cancer.
• Researchers at St. Jude and the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center discovered two receptors that recognize the fusion protein and guide T cells to kill all tumor cells carrying the hybrid target.
• This work serves as a proof of concept for future FLC treatment, which could enable a patient’s own immune system to seek out and destroy the cancer.
stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2024-medicine-science-news/immunotherapy-targeting-cancer-fusionprotein-may-hold-key-to-treating-rare-liver-cancer
Q3FY24:
St. Jude Home Care, LLC is first U.S. pediatric home health agency to earn new category of industry certification
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital announced that St. Jude Home Care LLC, a home health agency for the hospital’s patients, earned dual certifications in both pediatrics and home health from Community Health Accreditation Partners (CHAP). St. Jude Home Care LLC is the nation’s first agency to achieve that distinction. CHAP is the only organization in the U.S. that grants a discrete pediatric certification to home health agencies.
St. Jude Home Care LLC was established in 2021 to help protect immunocompromised cancer and sickle cell disease patients at risk of contracting COVID-19 through frequent doctor visits. The agency provides Memphis-area patients with skilled nursing, home health aids, occupational and physical therapy and other services to extend the quality of care patients receive in St. Jude facilities.
Inaugural class of Damon Runyon–St. Jude Pediatric Cancer Research Fellows announced
The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital announced the inaugural class of pediatric cancer research fellows. Each of the five fellows receive funding for four years ($300,000 total) to support an innovative project in basic or translational research with the potential to significantly impact the diagnosis or treatment of one or more pediatric cancers.
The initiative aims to provide support for early-career scientists to study pediatric cancer, addressing a funding gap that drives top talent to seek more prevalent opportunities in adult cancer research or the pharmaceutical sector.
The Damon Runyon–St. Jude Pediatric Cancer Research Fellowship will fund up to 25 fellowships over eight years, a $9 million investment
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital adds $13 million project to Research Collaboratives Program
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital today announced a nearly $13 million investment toward a new research collaboration with scientists at Columbia University, Duke University and Stanford University to expand the understanding of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR), which are vital proteins that impact human health and disease.
As outlined in the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, the St. Jude Research Collaboratives program is part of an overall effort by the institution to fund collaborative research addressing complex scientific problems with transformative potential for the diseases treated at St. Jude.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital named Sara M. Federico, MD, director of the institution’s Solid Tumor Division within the Department of Oncology. Federico is an internationally recognized leader in pediatric oncology whose contributions have defined the landscape of treatment for high-risk childhood solid tumors, such as neuroblastoma.
Federico is a leader in clinical research, serving as the principal investigator of numerous clinical trials for the treatment of high-risk solid tumors. Her research focuses on some of the most challenging cancers, such as high-risk neuroblastoma and relapsed sarcomas. Federico is currently leading five clinical trials, including two pioneering new approaches to treat neuroblastoma.
St. Jude patient housing, The Dominos Village, hosts
Tennessee’s
first medication dispensing kiosk.
The kiosk allows patient families to pick up their child’s medications at more convenient times without having to wait in line at the hospital.
Once a patient’s medication is loaded into the kiosk, it will send the patient or caregiver a text message with a code to use for accessing their medication.
St. Jude ranked among the top 10 on Forbes’ America’s Best Large Employers 2024 list
CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
FROM LAB TO LEADERSHIP
Jasmine Plummer shapes the future of research and discovery at St. Jude with Spatial Omics technologies
Q3FY24: EARNED MEDIA
U.S. regulators confirmed that sick cattle in Texas, Kansas and possibly in New Mexico contracted avian influenza. They stressed that the nation’s milk supply is safe.
A form of avian influenza that is highly fatal in birds has been confirmed in U.S. dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas, the Department of Agriculture announced on Monday.
It is the first time that cows infected with the virus have been identified.
When do I tell my child someone they love has been diagnosed with cancer?
“It’s important for communication with children to be done in a timely manner,” Elizabeth Farrell, lead clinical social worker Dana-Farber Cancer, told The Post. “Allow a space for your child to process the information, share their emotions, voice their concerns and ask questions,” Dr. Kendra Parris of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital told The Post.
Teacher Recruitment and Retention: Ensuring a well-qualified and motivated teaching workforce is crucial. The system should prioritize recruiting and retaining talented educators by offering competitive salaries, professional development opportunities, and support for their well-being...
