St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will commit $11.5 billion in the next six years to speed up research and treatment for children with catastrophic diseases, the Memphis institution announced Tuesday. St. Jude’s six-year strategic plan calls for 1,400 more jobs, developing new research areas and spending $1.9 billion for construction, renovation and capital needs. "This plan is really focused on accelerating progress against pediatric catastrophic diseases," said St. Jude President and CEO Dr. James Downing. "It’s a massive new investment in the institution." The investment, the largest in St. Jude’s history, will cover a range of high-priority areas for St. Jude, including childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases in children, international initiatives and expansions in its workforce, research and campus.