St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital expanding
MEMPHIS — St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is investing $11.5 billion over six years in a project that includes expanded cancerfocused research and construction of an outpatient clinic and a new patient family housing facility.
The nonprofit hospital said the expansion is the largest in its nearly 60-year history. Most of the plan would be funded by donors, the hospital said.
“The plan is ambitious, and its goals are far-reaching,” said James R. Downing, M.D., president and CEO at St. Jude. “We’re committing substantial resources to broaden scientific understanding, raise survival rates, improve quality of life, and connect researchers worldwide in the quest to find cures and save children with cancer and other deadly diseases.”
Under the plan announced this week, St. Jude will hire nearly 70 new faculty members, plus supporting laboratory staff, to work in basic, translational and clinical research across 22 departments. St. Jude said if fully funded, the expansion will add 1,400 more jobs at the Memphis campus.
The expansion builds on a previous six-year, $7 billion project that resulted in an increase in new cancer patients and faculty, and a new advanced research center.
St. Jude is considered a leading researcher of cancer and other life-threatening diseases that affect children. Families of patients never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food.
St. Jude plans to increase investment into learning why children’s cancers arise, spread and resist treatment. The hospital also plans to increase global investment to improve survival rates worldwide.
The multi-phase expansion plan is fueled almost entirely by steadily increasing donor contributions generated by ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude.
“We are making our biggest financial investment ever — during a pandemic — because the public, our donors, have demonstrated their commitment to us,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., ALSAC president and CEO. “It’s an incredible display of loyalty and purpose, and the power of people coming together to help the most vulnerable in our society: sick children.”
“The plan is ambitious, and its goals are far-reaching. We’re committing substantial resources … in the quest to find cures and save children with cancer and other deadly diseases.”
— JAMES R. DOWNING, M.D., PRESIDENT AND CEO AT ST. JUDE