DUARTE, Calif., June 4, 2008 – Theodore Krontiris, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president for medical and scientific affairs and director of the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been named emeritus director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center. Krontiris will continue as professor of molecular medicine at City of Hope’s Graduate School of Biological Science.

“This is a milestone year in City of Hope’s history, as we celebrate a renewed designation as a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center,” said Michael A. Friedman, M.D., president and chief executive officer, City of Hope. “We are grateful to Dr. Krontiris for overseeing this third renewal of our Comprehensive Cancer Center status. City of Hope as an institution is on the rise because of his commitment and leadership, and we look to the future with confidence because of his efforts.”

City of Hope is one of only 41 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers nationwide. The NCI awards support grants to institutions that provide both excellent patient care and scientific research into cancer. Institutions that achieve “comprehensive” status, the NCI’s highest cancer center designation, must demonstrate excellence in programs that address prevention, training and education for professionals as well as the community the institution serves.

Robert Figlin, M.D., the Arthur and Rosalie Kaplan Professor of Medicine and associate director for clinical research in the cancer center, will assume several of the executive vice president’s roles and work closely with Krontiris to ensure continuing development of the cancer center.