The National Cancer Institute has awarded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital the highest possible rank of "exceptional" for the second time in a row as well as giving it the best numerical score in the hospital's history during the renewal of the hospital's $30 million Comprehensive Cancer Center grant.
St. Jude is the first and only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center that is devoted solely to children. The designation and accompanying grant funds must be renewed every five years. St. Jude first earned an "exceptional" score in 2013. St. Jude has had the designation as an NCI Cancer Center since 1977, and first achieved comprehensive cancer center status in 2008.
A comprehensive cancer center must possess a deep and broad research-based portfolio that extends from the laboratory to the clinic, and must include population-based science. Centers must also be actively engaged in professional and public cancer education and outreach.