Few areas of medicine carry greater urgency than the fight against childhood cancer. Dr. Charles W. M. Roberts, MD, PhD, has spent much of his career working to understand the biology behind pediatric cancers and translate that knowledge into better treatments. Based at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, Roberts is an internationally recognized pediatric oncologist and physician-scientist whose work combines laboratory research, clinical medicine and leadership.
In August 2026, St. Jude announced that Roberts had been selected as the hospital’s next president and CEO. He is scheduled to assume the position on January 1, 2027, succeeding longtime leader Dr. James R. Downing. Before taking on the new leadership role, Roberts has served as executive vice president and director of the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Roberts earned both his MD and PhD from Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his pediatric training and pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital before continuing his research career at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School.
Exploring the Biology of Childhood Cancer
A major focus of Roberts’ scientific career has been understanding how changes in the machinery that controls gene activity can contribute to cancer. His laboratory studies the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex, which plays an important role in controlling how genes are switched on and off.
Mutations affecting SWI/SNF components occur in more than 20% of cancers. Research from the Roberts laboratory has helped identify vulnerabilities created by these mutations and has contributed to the development of potential therapeutic approaches. His team’s work on SWI/SNF and related pathways helped provide the scientific foundation for the FDA approval of the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat for certain SMARCB1-deficient cancers.
Roberts is particularly interested in why childhood cancers develop differently from many adult cancers. Rather than simply applying adult cancer strategies to children, his research emphasizes understanding the unique biology of pediatric tumors and using that information to identify more precise treatments.
A Significant New Leadership Role
Roberts’ appointment as the next president and CEO of St. Jude represents a major new chapter in his career. St. Jude has built an international reputation for combining research and patient care while providing treatment to children with serious diseases.
His selection reflects the combination of clinical experience, scientific expertise and leadership that has characterized his career. He has also received significant professional recognition, including the 2026 Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research and election to the American Association for Cancer Research Academy.
At St. Jude, Roberts will inherit an institution with an ambitious research agenda. Recent work includes studies of childhood cancer vulnerabilities, AI-assisted analysis of pediatric brain tumors and new approaches to understanding cancer biology.
Looking Toward the Next Generation of Treatment
For Roberts, the future of pediatric oncology depends on understanding cancer at a deeper biological level. His research seeks to identify vulnerabilities that can be targeted with treatments designed specifically around the biology of a child’s cancer.
His combination of laboratory research, pediatric oncology and institutional leadership makes him a notable figure in American medicine. As he prepares to lead St. Jude, Dr. Charles Roberts represents a new generation of physician-scientists working to connect scientific discovery with practical improvements in the lives of children with cancer.
