The City of Hope research and treatment center has set a goal of curing type 1 diabetes in six years after it received a private funding of more than $50 million. The funding was donated the center's Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute by the Wanek Family and several other anonymous benefactors.

Todd Wanek, CEO of Ashley Furniture, stated that research scientists from City of Hope have revolutionized the understanding and treatment of diabetes. He further stated that the Wanek family is extremely confident that City of Hope is the institution that will find a cure for more than 1 million of Americans who are afflicted with type 1 diabetes.

Officials from City of Hope stated that the Wanek Family project for type 1 diabetes will create several programs that will seek cure to the disease through immunotherapy approaches, including research into beta cell transplantation. In 1978, Arthur D. Riggs one of City of Hope's researchers, had developed a synthetic human insulin that is used by an estimated 1.5 million people in the country with type 1 diabetes and 27 million Americans with type 2 diabetes according to a report by San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

Robert W. Stone, president and CEO of City of Hope states that the research center is best positioned to take on this challenge. According to him, the institution has a 40-year legacy of pioneering treatment and research advances in diabetes. He further went on to state that City of Hope is extremely grateful to the Wanek family's hefty gift. This will enable the institution to further advance research on type 1 diabetes. The result of the project will have impact people worldwide. Stone went on to invite others to join the Wanek family and the City of Hope in their drive to move closer to a cure for type 1 diabetes as reported in an article by My News LA.