Jessica Muller Sun

Jessica Muller Sun is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Duke University and a member of the Duke Cancer Institute Faculty Affiliates. She specializes in pediatric hematology/oncology and has a strong focus on clinical and translational research in stem cell therapies for neurological and oncological conditions in children.

Education:

• M.D., University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (2003)
• Pediatric Internship & Residency at Duke University (2003–2006)
• Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at Duke University (2007–2010)

Research interests revolve around exploring the safety and efficacy of umbilical cord blood and mesenchymal stromal cell therapies in children with cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, and neuroblastoma. Her work integrates clinical trials, molecular analysis, and advanced imaging techniques such as diffusion MRI to evaluate therapeutic outcomes and mechanisms.

Her published articles emphasize randomized controlled trials, safety assessments, and translational applications of stem cell therapies in neurological and oncological pediatric populations. Recent studies include evaluating motor function recovery in cerebral palsy and analyzing the role of myelination in brain connectivity changes during therapy.

Scientific Awards:

• No scientific awards explicitly listed in the provided text.

Advising & Grants: Jessica Sun has no listed advisees but leads multiple grants investigating therapies for pediatric cancers and neurological conditions. Notable grants include a multi-institutional study on NK cell infusions for bone and soft tissue sarcomas (H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, 2024–2028) and a phase III study on 131I-MIBG therapy for neuroblastoma (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2020–2022).

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Duke Cancer Institute and collaborates with institutions such as Cellectar Biosciences, Actuate Therapeutics, and the National Institutes of Health on studies involving stem cell therapies and targeted immunotherapies.