Debbie C. Thurmond, Ph.D.
- Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
- Cellular Pathways/mechanisms of Insulin Release and Blood Glucose Control
- Cellular Therapies to Treat Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
- Biomarkers for Detecting Diabetes Development
- Professor, Department of Molecular & Cellular Endocrinology
Debbie Thurmond, Ph.D., is director of the Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute and a renowned research scientist, professor and the founding chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. Dr. Thurmond and her laboratory team will lead efforts to identify cellular and molecular mechanisms in diabetes development and therapies that can stop or reverse those processes. This can potentially lead to innovative treatment and prevention modalities for diabetes.
Location
Duarte Cancer Center
Duarte, CA 91010
Education & Experience
1997, Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
1992, M.S., Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
1988, B.S., Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA
1998-2001, NIH Individual NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
1997-1998, T32 Cardiovascular Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
1996-1997, American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellow, Department of Biochemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2020-present, Director, Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute, Duarte, CA
2015-2023, Professor and Chair, Department of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2014-present, Founder and CEO, STX Bio, Inc.
2011-2015, Professor, Departments of Pediatrics, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Cellular & Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN
2009-2015, Associate Director and Associate Professor, Basic Diabetes Group, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN
2009-2015, Graduate Faculty Member, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2007-2011, Associate Professor with Tenure, Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Cellular & Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN
2003-2015, Member, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN
2001-2015, Member, Center for Diabetes Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN
2001-2007, Assistant Professor, Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Cellular & Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN
2000 to 2001, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
1998-1999, Consultant, Bio-Research Products, Inc., North Liberty, IA
1992-1997, Teaching/Research Assistant, Department of Biochemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2017-present, Associate Editor, Frontiers in Endocrinology
2010-present, Editorial Board Member, American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology & Metabolism
2018-2021, Guest Editor, Frontiers in Endocrinology Special Topic: “Obesity and Cancer, Connecting the Dots”
2013-2020 Associate Editor, Diabetologia
2010-2017 Editorial Board Member, Journal Biological Chemistry
2007-2010, Editorial Board Member, Endocrinology
Research
Awards & Memberships
Awards
- 2023, Chan Soon-Shiong Shapiro Distinguished Chair in Diabetes
- 2023, Awardee, Values In Action (VIA) for Service with Compassion
- 2022, Professor Spotlight Award, LA Best 2022, UCLA
- 2022, Keynote Speaker, Washington University Diabetes Research Center, 2022 Annual Diabetes Day
- 2021, Keynote Speaker, Cell and Experimental Biology conference
- 2020, Gordon Research Conference Alexander M. Cruickshank Lecturer nominee
- 2020, YWCA Orange County Awardee, ‘Healthcare Advocate of the Year’
- 2019-2020, Carol Emmott Fellowship Awardee for Women Leaders in Healthcare
- 2018, University of Toronto Lectureship and Award, endowed by John K. and Mary E. Davidson for Excellence in Physiology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- 2017, Endowed Ruth and Robert Lanman Chair of Gene Regulation and Drug Discovery
- 2014-2015, Strategic Planning Member, Swedish Research Council
- 2010, IUPUI Research Frontiers Trailblazer Award for Outstanding Associate Professor
- 2010, IUPUI Research Frontiers Trailblazer Award (for outstanding Associate Professor)
- 2007-2010, Editorial Board Member, Endocrinology
- 2009, Nominee Finalist, ADA Outstanding Young Investigator Award
- 2009-2013, Standing Member, NIH Study Section on Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
- 2009, Cornell University, and University of Lousiville, graduate student elected speaker awards
- 2004-present, NIH/NIDDK R01s (continuously funded)
- 2006-2009, Invited Reviewer, American Diabetes Association, Section on Insulin Exocytosis
- 2006-2009, Invited Member, Research Grant Review Panel, American Diabetes Association
- 2006-2008, Vice President and President, Sigma Xi Chapter, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN
- 2005-2009, Grant Reviewer for The Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom
- 2005, Grant Review for the University of Michigan DRTC, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center DERC, Aurora, CO
- 2004, 2005 and 2008, Ad Hoc Member, NIH Metabolism/CADO Study Section/SEP
- 2004, American Diabetes Association Young Investigator Travel Scholarship
- 2003, American Diabetes Association Career Development Award
- 2002-2007, Career Development Award, American Diabetes Association
- 2002, American Diabetes Association Islet Biology Symposia Travel Scholarship
- 2000, American Diabetes Association Travel Scholarship
- 2000, Keystone Symposia Scholarship, Diabetes Mellitus
- 1999, President’s Poster Session Presentation, American Diabetes Association Meeting
- 1999, Keystone Symposia Scholarship, Membrane Protein Trafficking
- 1998, NIH Individual NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship
- 1997, Subramanian “Best Thesis” Award in Biochemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
- 1996, American Heart Association (Iowa Affiliate) Predoctoral Fellowship
- 1987, Chancellor’s Outstanding Senior Leadership Award, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
Memberships
- 2021, 2013 and 2009, Subcommittee Organizer, ADA Scientific Sessions in Islet Biology
- 2013, Professional Member, European Association for the Study of Diabetes
- 2010, Professional Member, American Physiological Society
- 2007, Professional Member, Endocrine Society
- 2004, Professional Member, American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- 2002, Professional Member, American Society for Cell Biology
- 2002, Professional Member, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
- 1998, Professional Member, American Diabetes Association
- 1997, Member, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International
- 1996, Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Publications
- Xu, W., Qadir, M. M. F., Nasteska, D., Mota de Sa, P., Gorvin, C. M., Blandino-Rosano, M., Evans, C. R., Ho, T., Potapenko, E., Veluthakal, R., Ashford, F. B., Bitsi, S., Fan, J., Bhondeley, M., Song, K., Sure, V. N., Sakamuri, S. S. V. P., Schiffer, L., Beatty, W., Wyatt, R., Thurmond, D.C., Mauvais-Jarvis, F. (2023). Architecture of androgen receptor pathways amplifying glucagon-like peptide-1 insulinotropic action in male pancreatic β cells. Cell reports, 42(5), 112529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112529
- Quijano, J. C., Wedeken, L., Ortiz, J. A., Zook, H. N., LeBon, J. M., Luo, A., Rawson, J., Tremblay, J. R., Mares, J. M., Lopez, K., Chen, M. H., Jou, K., Mendez-Dorantes, C., Al-Abdullah, I. H., Thurmond, D. C., Kandeel, F., Riggs, A. D., & Ku, H. T. (2023). Methylcellulose colony assay and single-cell micro-manipulation reveal progenitor-like cells in adult human pancreatic ducts. Stem cell reports, 18(3), 618–635.
- Hwang, J., & Thurmond, D. C. (2022). Exocytosis Proteins: Typical and Atypical Mechanisms of Action in Skeletal Muscle. Frontiers in endocrinology, 13, 915509.
- Balakrishnan, R., & Thurmond, D. C. (2022). Mechanisms by Which Skeletal Muscle Myokines Ameliorate Insulin Resistance. International journal of molecular sciences, 23(9), 4636.
- Chatterjee Bhowmick, D., Aslamy, A., Bhattacharya, S., Oh, E., Ahn, M., & Thurmond, D. C. (2022). DOC2b Enhances β-Cell Function via a Novel Tyrosine Phosphorylation-Dependent Mechanism. Diabetes, 71(6), 1246–1260.
- Merz, K. E., Tunduguru, R., Ahn, M., Salunkhe, V. A., Veluthakal, R., Hwang, J., Bhattacharya, S., McCown, E. M., Garcia, P. A., Zhou, C., Oh, E., Yoder, S. M., Elmendorf, J. S., & Thurmond, D. C. (2022). Changes in Skeletal Muscle PAK1 Levels Regulate Tissue Crosstalk to Impact Whole Body Glucose Homeostasis. Frontiers in endocrinology, 13, 821849.
- Merz, K. E., Hwang, J., Zhou, C., Veluthakal, R., McCown, E. M., Hamilton, A., Oh, E., Dai, W., Fueger, P. T., Jiang, L., Huss, J. M., & Thurmond, D. C. (2022). Enrichment of the exocytosis protein STX4 in skeletal muscle remediates peripheral insulin resistance and alters mitochondrial dynamics via Drp1. Nature communications, 13(1), 424.
- Oh, E., McCown, E. M., Ahn, M., Garcia, P. A., Branciamore, S., Tang, S., Zeng, D. F., Roep, B. O., & Thurmond, D. C. (2021). Syntaxin 4 Enrichment in β-Cells Prevents Conversion to Autoimmune Diabetes in Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) Mice. Diabetes, 70(12), 2837–2849.
- Veluthakal, R., & Thurmond, D. C. (2021). Emerging Roles of Small GTPases in Islet β-Cell Function. Cells, 10(6), 1503.
- Chatterjee Bhowmick, D., Ahn, M., Oh, E., Veluthakal, R., & Thurmond, D. C. (2021). Conventional and Unconventional Mechanisms by which Exocytosis Proteins Oversee β-cell Function and Protection. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(4), 1833.
- Veluthakal, R., Oh, E., Ahn, M., Chatterjee Bhowmick, D., & Thurmond, D. C. (2021). Syntaxin 4 Mediates NF-κB Signaling and Chemokine Ligand Expression via Specific Interaction With IκBβ. Diabetes, 70(4), 889–902.
- Ahn, M., Oh, E., McCown, E. M., Wang, X., Veluthakal, R., & Thurmond, D. C. (2021). A requirement for PAK1 to support mitochondrial function and maintain cellular redox balance via electron transport chain proteins to prevent β-cell apoptosis. Metabolism: clinical and experimental, 115, 154431.
- Merz, K. E., & Thurmond, D. C. (2020). Role of Skeletal Muscle in Insulin Resistance and Glucose Uptake. Comprehensive Physiology, 10(3), 785–809.
- Thurmond, D. C., & Gaisano, H. Y. (2020). Recent Insights into Beta-cell Exocytosis in Type 2 Diabetes. Journal of molecular biology, 432(5), 1310–1325.
- Zhang, J., Oh, E., Merz, K. E., Aslamy, A., Veluthakal, R., Salunkhe, V. A., Ahn, M., Tunduguru, R., & Thurmond, D. C. (2019). DOC2B promotes insulin sensitivity in mice via a novel KLC1-dependent mechanism in skeletal muscle. Diabetologia, 62(5), 845–859.
- Oh, E., Ahn, M., Afelik, S., Becker, T. C., Roep, B. O., & Thurmond, D. C. (2018). Syntaxin 4 Expression in Pancreatic β-Cells Promotes Islet Function and Protects Functional β-Cell Mass. Diabetes, 67(12), 2626–2639.
- Veluthakal, R., Chepurny, O. G., Leech, C. A., Schwede, F., Holz, G. G., & Thurmond, D. C. (2018). Restoration of Glucose-Stimulated Cdc42-Pak1 Activation and Insulin Secretion by a Selective Epac Activator in Type 2 Diabetic Human Islets. Diabetes, 67(10), 1999–2011.
- Salunkhe, V. A., Veluthakal, R., Kahn, S. E., & Thurmond, D. C. (2018). Novel approaches to restore beta cell function in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia, 61(9), 1895–1901.
- Aslamy, A., Oh, E., Olson, E. M., Zhang, J., Ahn, M., Moin, A. S. M., Tunduguru, R., Salunkhe, V. A., Veluthakal, R., & Thurmond, D. C. (2018). Doc2b Protects β-Cells Against Inflammatory Damage and Enhances Function. Diabetes, 67(7), 1332–1344.