City of Hope Diabetes Researcher Debbie C. Thurmond Named Ruth B. and Robert K. Lanman Chair in Gene Regulation and Drug Discovery Research

DUARTE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Debbie C. Thurmond, Ph.D., a professor in City of Hope's Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute and founding chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, has been named the Ruth B. and Robert K. Lanman Chair in Gene Regulation and Drug Discovery Research.

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The late Ruth B. and Robert K. Lanman established the gift in 2005 with an endowment of $2.5 million. Thurmond is the second City of Hope scientist to serve as the Lanman chair.

"City of Hope is grateful for the Lanmans' vision to impact future generations with their generous endowment," said Robert W. Stone, president and CEO of City of Hope. "Dr. Thurmond is a renowned researcher in beta-cell biology and skeletal muscle biology, and her work is focused on vastly improving treatment options for more than 28 million Americans who are battling diabetes, as well as developing better prevention efforts against the disease."

Thurmond is also a member of the Wanek Family Project for Type 1 Diabetes team, a $50 million initiative which aims to find a cure for type 1 diabetes in six years.

Thurmond and her team lead efforts to identify cellular and molecular mechanisms in diabetes development and find therapies that can stop or reverse the disease's progression. One of her projects focuses on boosting the body's ability to make and support insulin-producing cells to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, as well as to boost muscle insulin responsiveness to combat pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Thurmond's team is also working on improving islet cell transplantation and biomarkers for detecting diabetes development.

Thurmond received her doctorate at the University of Iowa, where she also completed her postdoctoral training. She earned her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of California, Davis. She currently serves on multiple editorial boards, international grant review panels and as associate editor for Diabetologia.

About City of Hope

City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as one of only 47 comprehensive cancer centers, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the world. City of Hope is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with community clinics throughout Southern California. It is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation, diabetes and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs based on technology developed at the institution. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.

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