Key Takeaways
- • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital secured two National Cancer Institute grants totaling $912,393 for pediatric cancer research on ependymoma and relapsed refractory sarcomas, announced by Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) on July 24, 2026.
- • The University of Memphis received a $53,114 grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for research on alcohol use patterns among non-four-year college emerging adults.
- • St. Jude's ependymoma research grant ($622,500) focuses on transcriptional regulation in ZFTA-RELA mutations under Dr. Mark C. Mack's direction in the Department of Developmental Neurobiology.
- • Dr. Rebecca Epperly's sarcoma treatment research ($289,893) in the Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy targets pediatric patients with relapsed refractory disease.
- • The combined grants total $965,507 across both institutions, supporting federally funded research infrastructure in Tennessee's medical and academic sectors.
Summary
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) announced the allocation of federal grant funding to two Tennessee-based research institutions on July 24, 2026. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital received two separate National Cancer Institute grants, while the University of Memphis secured funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, underscoring continued federal investment in pediatric oncology and behavioral health research.
St. Jude's grants address distinct but complementary areas of childhood cancer research. The first award of $622,500 supports investigative work on transcriptional regulation in ZFTA-RELA ependymoma, a pediatric brain tumor, under the leadership of Dr. Mark C. Mack in the Department of Developmental Neurobiology. The second grant of $289,893 funds research into treatment options for pediatric patients with relapsed refractory sarcomas under Dr. Rebecca Epperly in the Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. These grants reflect the National Cancer Institute's emphasis on understanding genetic mechanisms and improving therapeutic outcomes for treatment-resistant pediatric malignancies.
The University of Memphis received a smaller but focused award of $53,114 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The grant supports research into alcohol use patterns among non-four-year college emerging adults, directed by clinical psychology doctoral student Jacob Tempchin. This initiative addresses a research gap in understanding substance use behavior in populations not served by traditional four-year university structures.
Congressman Cohen framed the grants as evidence of meaningful progress in patient outcomes at St. Jude and acknowledged the value of behavioral research in improving outcomes for young populations. The total combined award amount of $965,507 demonstrates sustained federal commitment to medical research infrastructure in Tennessee and supports both translational oncology work and public health behavioral research.
St. Jude's grants address distinct but complementary areas of childhood cancer research. The first award of $622,500 supports investigative work on transcriptional regulation in ZFTA-RELA ependymoma, a pediatric brain tumor, under the leadership of Dr. Mark C. Mack in the Department of Developmental Neurobiology. The second grant of $289,893 funds research into treatment options for pediatric patients with relapsed refractory sarcomas under Dr. Rebecca Epperly in the Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. These grants reflect the National Cancer Institute's emphasis on understanding genetic mechanisms and improving therapeutic outcomes for treatment-resistant pediatric malignancies.
The University of Memphis received a smaller but focused award of $53,114 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The grant supports research into alcohol use patterns among non-four-year college emerging adults, directed by clinical psychology doctoral student Jacob Tempchin. This initiative addresses a research gap in understanding substance use behavior in populations not served by traditional four-year university structures.
Congressman Cohen framed the grants as evidence of meaningful progress in patient outcomes at St. Jude and acknowledged the value of behavioral research in improving outcomes for young populations. The total combined award amount of $965,507 demonstrates sustained federal commitment to medical research infrastructure in Tennessee and supports both translational oncology work and public health behavioral research.
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