St. Jude Redesignated as WHO Collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer, Expanding Global Pediatric Oncology Efforts
Key Insights
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has been redesignated as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer (search), reaffirming its role as the first and only WHO collaborating centre dedicated to pediatric cancer.
The expanded work plan now includes contributions to policy and systems science, palliative care, and management of other pediatric catastrophic diseases such as sickle cell disease (search).
The partnership supports the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (search)'s vision to achieve at least 60% survival for children with cancer by 2030, particularly in countries where survival is currently below 30%.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has been redesignated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer (search), the institution announced, reaffirming a longstanding collaboration with the World Health Organization and building momentum for joint efforts to improve outcomes for children with cancer worldwide. St. Jude remains the first and only WHO collaborating centre dedicated to cancer in children, a designation it has held since the centre launched in 2018.
"The work of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer (search) at St. Jude is rooted in the belief that where a child lives should never determine whether they survive cancer," said James R. Downing, MD, St. Jude president and CEO. "We are working alongside institutions, governments and healthcare providers globally to expand access to quality cancer care and build stronger health systems to create a future in which more children have the opportunity to survive and thrive."
A Unique Global Mandate
There are more than 800 WHO collaborating centres in over 80 countries around the world, yet St. Jude stands alone as the only one focused exclusively on childhood cancer (search). Since its initial designation in 2018, the centre has supported WHO with contributions to national policy through technical cooperation, education, innovation, and multisectoral partnerships that bring together hospitals, foundations, global agencies, government ministries, and other collaborating institutions.
"Together with our St. Jude Global Alliance, which now encompasses more than 400 institutions and foundations across more than 90 countries, we have created a powerful implementation network that fuels the support we offer to WHO as an academic institution, capable of transforming the science and systems influencing pediatric cancer outcomes on a global scale," said Catherine Lam, MD, MPH, WHO Collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer (search) director and faculty clinician-scientist in the Department of Global Pediatric Medicine at St. Jude.
Expanded Work Plan and New Disease Areas
The redesignation comes with an expanded work plan that broadens the centre's scope beyond childhood cancer (search) alone. The new mandate includes contributions in support of WHO's work in policy and systems science, palliative care, and management for other pediatric catastrophic diseases, such as sickle cell disease (search).
"The goal of this partnership is to dramatically increase global pediatric cancer survival in these countries, where survival is lower than 30%," said Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, MD, executive vice president, Department of Global Pediatric Medicine chair and St. Jude Global director. "As St. Jude Global continues to grow and evolve, so does the scope of work and collaboration with WHO. Looking ahead, we are broadening our vision to incorporate palliative care and address other catastrophic pediatric diseases, ensuring that children and families everywhere have access not only to treatment, but also to compassionate, comprehensive care throughout every stage of their journey."
Driving Toward the 2030 Survival Target
The ongoing partnership between St. Jude and WHO has already yielded significant initiatives, including the 2018 launch of the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (search) (GICC) and the 2025 launch of the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines. These efforts are helping to propel the global community's vision to achieve at least 60% survival for children with cancer by 2030 while reducing suffering and shaping a healthier future for all.
"We recognize the great value of collaborating centres. As trusted technical partners on the ground, they not only provide technical support for countries, but also strengthen health systems through the sharing of knowledge, best practices and tools, to work together with WHO to advance the objectives of the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (search)," said Roberta Ortiz, MD, medical officer at WHO Headquarters serving as focal point for the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.
Lam further emphasized the centre's role in health systems strengthening: "St. Jude expertise in national cancer control planning helps ensure that the unique needs of children, adolescents and young adults are meaningfully integrated into health systems and policy frameworks worldwide. Coupled with decades of leadership in education, innovation and frontline clinical breakthroughs, we are working hand in hand with collaborators around the world to expand access to high-quality, lifesaving care for every child."
A Broader Institutional Commitment
In addition to its designation as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer (search), St. Jude is also one of seven institutions named a WHO Collaborating Centre for Influenza, a position the organization has held since 1975, underscoring the institution's enduring role in global public health collaboration.