Cohen Announces $652K for Research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) today announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital $652,332 for HIV/AIDS research to help mothers and children combat the deadly disease. The new federal funds will be distributed by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

“HIV/AIDS continues to be a serious problem in our country, especially among our youth,” said Congressman Cohen. “St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is one of the best research hospitals in the country and provides a valuable service to our children and community. These new federal funds will help ensure St. Jude doctors and scientists continue to provide our children who are battling HIV/AIDS with the best care possible.”

It is estimated that 25 to 50 percent of new cases of HIV/AIDS in the U.S. are occurring in youth, according to the St. Jude-Memphis Adolescent Trials Unit. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development is working with St. Jude to conduct research to explore promising behavioral, microbicidal, prophylactic, therapeutic, and vaccine modalities in HIV-infected and HIV at-risk adolescents, age 12 through 24. Click here to learn more about the Institute and its work.