The Board of Governors of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has announced Charles W.M. Roberts, MD, PhD, executive vice president and current director of the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center, as its next president and chief executive officer.

Over the course of his career, Roberts has published numerous peer-reviewed research papers in high-impact academic journals. His work was done in collaboration with peers from institutions across the world. As cancer center director, Roberts has also developed and launched large-scale scientific collaborations between St. Jude and external partners.

Roberts joined St. Jude in 2015 as the Comprehensive Cancer Center director, overseeing the vision, planning and strategic growth in the institution’s cancer research, as well as its clinical research enterprise. Over the past decade, he has led the Cancer Center to receiving the top “Exceptional” ranking by the National Cancer Institute in both reviews and to its best score in institutional history each time.

In addition to his role leading the Cancer Center’s five research programs, Roberts’ own research has made field-advancing gains in cancer epigenetics, including work that uncovered tumor-suppressive roles of SMARCAB1/SNF5 in lethal pediatric rhabdoid tumors. His work has led to new FDA-approved and investigational cancer therapies for both children and adults.

Roberts’ contributions have been recognized by the medical and scientific community, including election as a fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy. He received the AACR Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research and the Stephen E. Sallan Leadership Award. He is also a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, American Society of Clinical Investigation, American Association of Physicians, and American Pediatric Society. In 2025, he was elected to serve on the AACR Board.

After he received his medical and doctoral degrees from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, Roberts completed his pediatric residency and pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

As the organization’s seventh president and CEO, Roberts will be tasked with overseeing a global organization devoted to advancing cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases around the world.