St. Jude Named WHO Collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has reaffirmed its pivotal role in the global fight against pediatric cancer with its recent redesignation as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer. This prestigious status not only honors St. Jude’s deep-rooted commitment to advancing pediatric oncology but also solidifies its unique position as the sole WHO Collaborating Centre exclusively dedicated to childhood cancer worldwide. The designation reflects the hospital’s substantial contributions in providing strategic, scientific, and technical expertise to WHO’s mission, thereby accelerating progress in improving survival rates and care quality for children afflicted by cancer internationally.

At the heart of this collaboration lies a fundamental conviction championed by St. Jude: a child’s geographic location must never dictate their likelihood of surviving cancer. Under the leadership of Dr. James R. Downing, St. Jude’s President and CEO, the institution actively partners with global health bodies, governments, academic institutions, and clinical providers to broaden access to comprehensive cancer care. These alliances are designed to fortify health infrastructures and knowledge exchange systems, ensuring equitable delivery of lifesaving therapies and supportive services for pediatric patients, irrespective of their origin.

St. Jude’s designation is not isolated but part of a sophisticated network of over 800 WHO collaborating centers distributed across more than 80 nations. Uniquely, St. Jude is dedicated exclusively to pediatric malignancies, making it an unparalleled resource in formulating childhood cancer policies and disseminating best practices. Since its inception as a WHO Collaborating Centre in 2018, St. Jude has leveraged its expertise to influence national health policies, boost technical capacity, and nurture multisectoral collaborations. These endeavors have collectively enhanced the global capacity to prevent, diagnose, and treat childhood cancers, shaping a more coordinated and effective response to pediatric oncology challenges.

The influence of St. Jude’s WHO Collaborating Centre extends significantly through the St. Jude Global Alliance, which encompasses over 400 institutions and foundations in more than 90 countries. This expansive network forms a robust implementation infrastructure that translates scientific discoveries into real-world improvements in pediatric cancer outcomes. As described by Dr. Catherine Lam, the Centre’s Director and a faculty clinician-scientist, this alliance fortifies the hospital’s academic and clinical expertise on an international scale, fostering innovation and knowledge transfer essential for tackling global disparities in pediatric oncology.

One of the landmark achievements stemming from this collaboration was the establishment of the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) in 2018. This ambitious program targets a doubling of survival rates globally, aiming for at least 60% survival for childhood cancers by 2030. Complementing this, the 2025 launch of the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines underscores a coordinated approach to overcoming barriers in medication availability and affordability—critical hurdles in low- and middle-income countries where cure rates have historically lagged behind.

The expanded remit of the WHO Collaborating Centre now includes not only oncology but also the management of catastrophic pediatric diseases such as sickle cell disease, representing an integrated strategy that acknowledges the complex medical and supportive care needs of these patient populations. This progression enhances the Centre’s potential to impact child health comprehensively, integrating palliative care and systems strengthening into its core objectives.

Driving the Centre’s evolving agenda, Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, Executive Vice President and Chair of the Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, emphasizes the aim to ameliorate survival rates in regions where it has remained below 30%. Expanding the scope of pediatric care to encompass palliative services and holistic disease management initiatives ensures that children everywhere receive not only curative treatments but also dignified, comprehensive care throughout their disease trajectory.

The WHO recognizes the critical role of collaborating centers such as St. Jude in facilitating technical support, knowledge dissemination, and health system strengthening at the country level. According to Dr. Roberta Ortiz, medical officer at WHO Headquarters and focal point for the GICC, these centers bring invaluable expertise and tools that underpin successful implementation of global childhood cancer strategies. This partnership model is instrumental in translating high-level policy into practical actions that directly benefit pediatric populations.

St. Jude’s profound impact on national cancer control planning ensures that pediatric oncology is meaningfully integrated into broader health systems and governance frameworks. By embedding child-specific needs within policy platforms, the hospital advances a child-centered approach to cancer care that elevates research-driven innovations and frontline clinical breakthroughs. This comprehensive strategy enhances survivorship and quality of life for pediatric patients on a global scale.

In addition to its leadership in pediatric oncology, St. Jude also maintains a longstanding designation as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Influenza, a role it has fulfilled since 1975. This dual recognition highlights the institution’s diverse expertise and sustained contributions to global health, reaffirming its status as a vanguard institution whose research and clinical programs catalyze transformative progress across multiple domains of pediatric medicine.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s redesignation as the exclusive WHO Collaborating Centre dedicated to childhood cancer embodies the epitome of global health collaboration. Anchored in robust scientific inquiry, innovative care models, and strategic partnerships, this status propels forward a shared vision of equitable cancer care access and improved outcomes for all children—irrespective of geography. As the global pediatric oncology landscape evolves, St. Jude’s leadership and expansive alliance ensure that the journey toward eradicating childhood cancer is both scientifically rigorous and compassionately inclusive.

News Publication Date: June 17, 2026

Web References:

• https://www.stjude.org/research/departments/global-medicine/who-collaborating-centre-for-childhood-cancer.html
• https://www.stjude.org/global/collaborating-to-cure/global-initiative.html
• https://global.stjude.org/en-us/featured/global-platform-for-access-to-childhood-cancer-medicines.html