Debbie C. Thurmond, Ph.D.

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 newly created Department of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. Dr. Thurmond and her 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.
Dr. Thurmond received her Ph.D. and postdoctoral training at the University of Iowa, and earned her M.S. and B.S. from the University of California Davis. She currently serves on multiple editorial boards, international grant review panels and as associate editor for Diabetologia.
1997, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, Ph.D., Biochemistry
1992, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, M.S., Nutrition
1988, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, B.S., Animal Science
1996-1997, Predoctoral Fellow, University of Iowa, Department of Biochemistry
1998-2001, NIH Individual NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship
1997-2000, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Iowa, Department of Physiology & Biophysics
2020-present, Director, Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute, Duarte, CA
2015-present, 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
2009-2015, Associate Director, Associate Professor, Basic Diabetes Group, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
2009-2015, Member, Purdue University Graduate Faculty
2007-2011, Associate Professor with tenure, Indiana University School of Medicine, Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Cellular & Integrative Physiology
2003-2015, Member, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine
2001-2015, Member, Center for Diabetes Research, Indiana University School of Medicine
2001-2007 - Assistant Professor, Indiana University School of Medicine, Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Cellular & Integrative Physiology
2000 to 2001, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Iowa, Department of Physiology & Biophysics
1998-1999, Consultant, Bio-Research Products, Inc., North Liberty, IA
1992-1997, Teaching/Research Assistant, University of Iowa, Department of Biochemistry
2020, Carol Emmott Fellowship
2019, John K. and Mary E. Davidson Lectureship and Award for Outstanding Diabetes Research, University of Toronto
1987, Chancellor’s Outstanding Senior Leadership Award, Univ. of California, Davis
1997 - Subramanian “Best Thesis” Award in Biochemistry, Univ. of Iowa
1999, Keystone symposia scholarship, Membrane Protein Trafficking
1999, President’s Poster Session Presentation, American Diabetes Association meeting
2000, Keystone symposia scholarship, Diabetes Mellitus
2000, American Diabetes Association travel scholarship
2002, American Diabetes Association Islet Biology symposia travel scholarship
2003, Career Development Award, American Diabetes Association
2004, American Diabetes Association Young Investigator Travel Scholarship
2004, 2005, 2008, NIH Metabolism/CADO Study section/SEP, Ad Hoc member
2005, Grant review for the University of Michigan DRTC, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center DERC
2005-2009 - Grant reviewer for The Wellcome Trust, UK
2006-2009, Invited Reviewer, American Diabetes Association, section on Insulin Exocytosis
2006-2008, Vice- and President, Sigma Xi chapter at Indiana University School of Medicine
2006-2009, Research Grant Review Panel of the American Diabetes Association, invited member
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 (MCE)
2010-Present, Editorial Board member, AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism
2010, IUPUI Research Frontiers Trailblazer Award (for outstanding Associate Professor)
2011-present, Editorial Board member, Journal of Biological Chemistry
2014-present, Research Grant Review Panel of the American Heart Association, invited member
2014-2015, Swedish Research Council, Strategic Planning Member
2013, Professional Member, European Assoc. 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