James R. Downing
James R. Downing | |
---|---|
Born | Detroit, Michigan |
Citizenship | US |
Education | University of Michigan–Dearborn University of Michigan (MD) |
Partner | Mariea Downing |
Children | 3 |
Scientific career | |
Institutions | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital |
James R. Downing is an American clinical executive. He is the president and chief executive officer of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Early life and education
James R. Downing was born to Lillian and Robert W. Downing and grew up in Detroit, Michigan with five siblings.[1][2] Downing enjoyed playing football and baseball while he attended Aquinas High School, and initially hoped to play baseball professionally. He received his
Career
Following his Doctor of Medicine, Downing completed a 2-year
In 1986, Downing was recruited by hematopathologist Coston W. Berard and began working at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital with Charles J. Sherr.[3] He became Chairman of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in 1997 and Deputy Director in 2011.[4] On July 15, 2014, Downing became the Chief Executive Officer of St. Jude, making him the sixth person to hold the position.[5]
Downing was one of the inaugural co-editors of the
Research
Downing has studied the molecular basis underlying pediatric
In 2010, Downing launched the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project in an effort to determine the genetic lesions that underlie childhood cancers. By 2013, the project had sequenced the genomes of over 700 pediatric cancer patients and 21 different types of cancer.[8][3] Next, the Clinical Genomics Project focused on using the PCGP findings to improve diagnostic and clinical treatment for St. Jude patients in "Phase II” of the project. By 2020, St Jude's had sequenced the exome and transcriptome of another 1,200 patients, identifying a total of 23 types of cancer. Among their discoveries were genomic differences between cancers in children and adults, and the finding that about 10% of children with cancer display mutations in known cancer-predisposition genes.[9]
In 2018, Downing led St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in partnering with the
Awards and honors
- 1998, Member, American Society for Clinical Investigation[12]
- 2003. Member, Association of American Physicians[13]
- 2003, Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science.[14]
- 2005, Philip Levine Award for Outstanding Research, American Society for Clinical Pathology[15]
- 2012, Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics, Association for Molecular Pathology[16]
- 2013, Member, Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine)[17]
- 2016, Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences[18][8]
- 2017, Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Prize,[7]
- 2017, E. Donnall Thomas Lecture and Prize, American Society of Hematology.[19]
- 2019, Pediatric Oncology Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology[20]
- 2020, Inaugural AACR-St. Baldrick’s Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pediatric Cancer Research, American Association for Cancer Research[21]
- 2022, Fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research in recognition of his contributions to the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project.[22]
Personal life
James R. Downing is married to Mariea Downing; the couple has three children and five grandchildren.[23]
References
- ^ "Lillian Downing". The Detroit News. August 29, 2004. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ "Healthcare Leader: James Downing, MD". Memphis Medical News. January 12, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Murtaugh, Frank (July 2, 2014). "St. Jude's James Downing". Memphis the City Magazine. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ The ASCO Post. November 25, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ Robertson, Rob (July 2, 2014). "Q&A: James Downing, new CEO at St. Jude". Memphis Business Journal. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- doi:10.1086/509485.
- ^ a b "St. Jude Children's Research Hospital CEO and a hospital faculty member recognized for contributions to cancer research". www.stjude.org. May 18, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ a b "James R. Downing, M.D., of St. Jude, elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences". www.stjude.org. April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ "World-wide Monitor - Pediatric Cancer Genome Project marks 10 years" (PDF). Middle East Health. No. March–April. 2020. pp. 8–9. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ "WHO and St. Jude to dramatically increase global access to childhood cancer medicines". World Health Organization. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ "St. Jude, WHO tell us how their $200M initiative would fix global drug shortages for kids with cancer—and (maybe) adults". The Cancer Lettervolume=48. No. 4. January 28, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ "James R. Downing, MD". The American Society for Clinical Investigation. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ "James R. Downing, MD". St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ Qs and AAAs, Annual Review 2003 (PDF). Washington, DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science. 2003. p. 20. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ "ASCP Philip Levine Award for Outstanding Research" (PDF). ASCP. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ "Past Recipients". Association for Molecular Pathology. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ "St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Scientific Director Elected to Institute of Medicine". Newswise. October 21, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ "James R. Downing". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ "James R. Downing, MD, to Present the 2017 American Society of Hematology E. Donnall Thomas Lecture". American Society of Hematology. August 24, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- . Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ "James R. Downing, MD, to Receive the Inaugural AACR-St. Baldrick's Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pediatric Cancer Research". American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ "James R. Downing, M.D., elected to Fellows of AACR Academy Class of 2022". www.stjude.org. March 22, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ "James R. Downing, MD". St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Retrieved January 20, 2021.