St. Jude’s Roberts Honored as AACR Fellow, Spotlight on Pediatric Cancer Breakthroughs
Event summary
- Charles W.M. Roberts, MD, PhD, St. Jude’s Comprehensive Cancer Center director, named 2026 AACR Fellow and recipient of the Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for contributions to cancer research education.
- St. Jude researchers to present on pediatric cancer treatments, epigenetics, CAR T therapies, and AI in oncology at the AACR annual meeting (April 17–22, 2026).
- Roberts to lead fireside chat on shifting pediatric cancer treatment paradigms, highlighting chromatin remodeling and cancer epigenetics research.
- St. Jude scientists to discuss morbidity after childhood cancer, therapy-related mutagenesis, and early-phase pediatric cancer trials.
The big picture
St. Jude’s prominence at the AACR meeting underscores its leadership in pediatric cancer research, particularly in epigenetics and AI-driven therapies. The institution’s focus on training the next generation of researchers aligns with broader industry efforts to sustain innovation in oncology. With childhood cancer survival rates improving from 20% to 80% over six decades, St. Jude’s breakthroughs continue to redefine treatment standards globally.
What we're watching
- Therapeutic Breakthroughs
- The pace at which St. Jude’s chromatin remodeling research translates into FDA-approved therapies for pediatric and adult cancers.
- Pediatric Cancer Paradigm
- How St. Jude’s fundamental discoveries about cancer-specific vulnerabilities will shape the next generation of pediatric cancer treatments.
- AI Integration
- The role of agentic AI in advancing oncology research and clinical decision-making, as highlighted by St. Jude’s Data Science chief.