Charles Roberts Elected to National Academy of Medicine

The National Academy of Medicine has elected Charles W.M. Roberts, a physician-scientist and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital leader, to membership in recognition of his contributions to pediatric oncology and cancer epigenetics. The academy announced the election on October 19, 2026. Roberts currently serves as executive vice president and director of the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center and is scheduled to become St. Jude’s president and chief executive officer on January 1, 2027. His research has examined how disruptions in chromatin remodeling complexes can contribute to cancer and has helped inform the development of therapies for children and adults.

Roberts’ work connects laboratory research with clinical care. As a physician at St. Jude, he has cared for patients treated at the hospital, while as a scientist he has investigated the fundamental biology of disease. The National Academy of Medicine cited his research on chromatin remodeling complexes, which normally provide access to DNA so genes can be transcribed. St. Jude stated that this work has led to U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved and investigational cancer therapies for both children and adults. The announcement described the contribution as recognition of advances in understanding cancer and developing novel therapies for children with cancer.

In the announcement, Roberts said the recognition reflected the patients who inspired his work, the science taking place at St. Jude and the colleagues with whom he had worked. He said the organization had reached a point in pediatric medicine where tools developed over time were converging in ways that made previously unimaginable therapeutic advances possible for children. Roberts also said he was honored to join the National Academy of Medicine at this moment and looked forward to contributing to its work. His election adds another distinction to a career that has included both scientific investigation and institutional leadership.

Roberts has led the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center since 2015, overseeing the institution’s cancer research vision, planning and strategic growth as well as its clinical research enterprise. His administrative responsibilities therefore extend beyond an individual laboratory or research program. In addition to directing the cancer center, he has guided the St. Jude Research Collaboratives program, which supports collaboration among investigators within the institution. He also created and co-led the multi-institutional Pediatric Cancer Dependencies Accelerator, developed The Science of Childhood Cancer virtual lecture series and launched the Collaborative Academic Developmental Therapeutics initiative with Stanford University and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

These initiatives reflect a stated emphasis on cooperation among laboratories, clinicians and research institutions. The Pediatric Cancer Dependencies Accelerator was created and co-led under Roberts’ leadership, while the Collaborative Academic Developmental Therapeutics initiative brought St. Jude together with Stanford University and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The St. Jude announcement described these efforts as part of his commitment to collaboration as a fundamental driver of scientific breakthroughs. The research collaboratives program and the virtual lecture series similarly support connections between investigators and the exchange of scientific information, although the announcement did not provide detailed outcome measures for the programs.

Roberts’ prior honors include election as a fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research Academy. He has received the AACR’s Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research and the Stephen E. Sallan Leadership Award. He is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, American Society of Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians and American Pediatric Society, and he serves on the AACR Board of Directors. These memberships and awards recognize sustained professional involvement in cancer research, education, training and organizational leadership rather than a single study or clinical result.

James R. Downing, St. Jude’s president and chief executive officer, praised Roberts as a pioneer in cancer epigenetics whose discoveries reshaped understanding of how disruptions in developmental programs drive childhood cancer and helped lay the foundation for new targeted therapies. Downing also described him as an exceptional leader who strengthened the Comprehensive Cancer Center and launched ambitious collaborations. These statements were part of St. Jude’s announcement of the academy election and represent the institution’s assessment of Roberts’ work, rather than an independent evaluation reported in the source.

Congressionally chartered in 1970 under the name Institute of Medicine, the National Academy of Medicine works alongside the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering. Together, the National Academies provide independent and objective analysis and advice to the nation, address complex problems, inform public policy decisions, promote education and research, honor outstanding contributions to knowledge and increase public understanding of science, technology, engineering and medicine. Election to the National Academies is described by the academy as one of the highest honors in health and medicine. Roberts joins the organization’s membership in its work concerning health-care research, practice and public policy.

His election also places Roberts within a substantial group of St. Jude scientists who are members of the National Academy of Medicine. Current members include Downing; J. Paul Taylor, St. Jude executive vice president, scientific director and chair of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology; P. David Rogers, chair of the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Mitchell Weiss, chair of the Department of Hematology; and emeritus faculty members William Evans, Mary Relling, Peter Doherty and Charles Sherr. Arthur Nienhuis, a former St. Jude director and chief executive officer, was also a member before his death. St. Jude faculty who belong to the National Academy of Sciences include Hongbo Chi, Martine Roussel, Brenda Schulman, Douglas Green and emeritus faculty members Robert Webster, Doherty and Sherr.

For St. Jude, the appointment is both an institutional milestone and a recognition of a physician-scientist preparing to assume its top leadership role. Roberts will bring experience in pediatric oncology, cancer epigenetics, patient care, cancer-center administration and multi-institutional research partnerships to the position. The National Academy of Medicine announcement did not report new trial results, treatment outcomes or a change in clinical guidance arising from his election. Instead, it documented his election, described the research and leadership contributions recognized by the academy and St. Jude, and outlined the leadership transition scheduled for January 1, 2027. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, based in Memphis, Tennessee, conducts research and clinical care across childhood cancer, blood disorders, neurological conditions and infectious diseases.

Subject of Research: Election of physician-scientist Charles W.M. Roberts to the National Academy of Medicine for contributions to pediatric oncology and cancer epigenetics.

Article Title: Charles W.M. Roberts, MD, Ph.D., St. Jude president and CEO-elect, named to National Academy of Medicine

Article References: Charles W.M. Roberts, MD, Ph.D., St. Jude president and CEO-elect, named to National Academy of Medicine. Original publication (Bibliographic details unavailable.)

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: Not provided

Keywords: Charles W.M. Roberts, National Academy of Medicine, St. Jude, pediatric oncology, cancer epigenetics, chromatin remodeling, physician-scientist, cancer research, institutional leadership, childhood cancer, Charles, Roberts