Clinical Research

Cancer

The survival for childhood cancer has increased from less than 10 percent in the 1950s to more than 80 percent today, with some cancers nearing 100 percent survival. This medical success story was achieved through participation in clinical trials.

The Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology faculty and staff are committed to offering enrollment on clinical trials for all pediatric cancer patients for whom a trial is available. The faculty is currently conducting in-house studies of health disparities in pediatric oncology in Mississippi.  In addition, we conduct regular quality improvement projects in supportive care for childhood cancer patients. 

As a member of the Children’s Oncology Group, the Children’s Cancer Center and the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology participates in multiple national and international clinical trials. In addition, we partner with pharmaceutical industries to offer additional clinical trials.

Providers also are working with researchers to find new ways to fight childhood cancer, including new combinations of medication, new cancer growth pathways that scientists may target and new ways to ease the after effects of cancer.

Sickle cell research activity

These are exciting times for sickle cell research with novel medications and therapies being studied and developed. Coordinated by Dr. Melissa McNaull, professor of pediatric hematology-oncology, our team continues to participate in NIH and pharmaceutical company-sponsored trials.

The faculty and staff are committed to offering these trials and enrollment on them for patients with sickle cell disease. 

In addition, we are conducting in-house trials on improving quality of life and access to care for sickle cell patients. 

Finally, Dr. Joseph Maher, working with Dr. Suvankar Majumdar, formerly of UMMC and now at Children’s National Medical Center, has an NIH grant to study interaction of genetic factors and clinical factors in patients with sickle cell disease that modify cardiac repolarization and predispose patients to heart disease and early mortality.