Understanding Life and Disease with NMR Spectroscopy at St. Jude

At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, our researchers are using NMR spectroscopy to study proteins involved in various forms of cancer.

Through NMR spectroscopy, the Department of Structural Biology can reveal protein structure and function at the atomic level with the ultimate goal of providing new cures to our patients.

Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) requires placing a biological sample inside a magnet with a very strong magnetic field. With radio and magnetic waves passing through it, the molecular sample emits signals that are then read by the spectrometer. Evaluating the signals can give researchers an idea of the three-dimensional shape of the molecule and how it might change in response to certain drugs. Researchers may then be able to develop more effective drugs to treat childhood cancer.