Author Profile

Erin Podolak, MA

Erin Podolak

Science Writer

Erin Podolak, MA, is a science writer in the Department of Strategic Communication, Education and Outreach.

Stories by Erin Podolak

Xu Yang and Yizhen Li in a laboratory
Xu Yang and Yizhen Li in a laboratory
Research

T cells are key to maintaining cancer remissions from chemotherapy

Erin Podolak, MA

Stimulating the adaptive immune response can improve outcomes for ALL treated with chemotherapy.

Paul Thomas and Joshua Wolf
Paul Thomas and Joshua Wolf
Research

St. Jude researchers answer COVID questions

Erin Podolak, MA

St. Jude research has advanced understanding of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. Here is what the findings mean for you.

Paul Wise giving a lecture
Paul Wise giving a lecture
Clinical

SAFER Ukraine: a framework for responding to global conflicts

Erin Podolak, MA

What lessons can be learned from the remarkable success of SAFER Ukraine?

Fabio Demontis
Fabio Demontis
Research

Research points to a way to reduce cachexia, a cancer-induced muscle wasting disorder

Erin Podolak, MA

Muscle signaling provide clues for treatment of the muscle-wasting disorder cachexia, which affects cancer patients.

Amar Gajjar, MD., with patient Charlotte and her mother
Amar Gajjar, MD., with patient Charlotte and her mother
Clinical

Reflecting on nearly 40 years of progress against pediatric brain tumors

Erin Podolak, MA

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month and a good time to learn more about the diverse group of diseases that make up the most common childhood solid tumor.

Marta Salek, M.D., at work at the Unicorn Marian Wilemski Clinic in Poland.
Marta Salek, M.D., at work at the Unicorn Marian Wilemski Clinic in Poland.
Outreach

Polish roots led Marta Salek, M.D., to a leading role in SAFER Ukraine effort

Erin Podolak, MA

Dr. Marta Salek of St. Jude was in Poland visiting family when Russia invaded Ukraine. She jumped in to help launch the humanitarian effort SAFER Ukraine.

Stephen Mack, MD, PhD
Stephen Mack, MD, PhD
Research

Metabolic processes may yield a new therapeutic window for hard-to-treat brain tumors

Erin Podolak, MA

In his laboratory at St. Jude, Stephen Mack, PhD, is researching how metabolic and epigenetic pathways might be perturbed to help treat DIPG, a lethal childhood brain tumor.

Sima Jeha, MD, and colleagues meet around a table
Sima Jeha, MD, and colleagues meet around a table
Outreach

Lessons from Lebanon: St. Jude Global reacts to war in Ukraine

Erin Podolak, MA

Lessons learned from previous global crises inform the St. Jude Global response to childhood cancer patients displaced by the war in Ukraine.

posterior fossa
posterior fossa
Research

Getting to the bottom of a medulloblastoma mystery

Erin Podolak, MA

Posterior fossa syndrome develops in some children following surgery for the brain tumor medulloblastoma. St. Jude research offers fresh insight into the mysterious syndrome and advice on how to avoid it.

Blocking the progression of pre-leukemic disorders
Blocking the progression of pre-leukemic disorders
Research

Blocking the progression of pre-leukemic disorders

Erin Podolak, MA

Genetic changes in the biology of blood cells can lead them down a path to cancer. This researcher is figuring out how that happens.