David Duffy

The Duffy Lab focuses on questions at the interface between wildlife and human health, with the aim of identifying disease mechanisms and novel therapeutic treatments. We are primarily focused on cancer, particularly on understanding fibropapillomatosis in endangered sea turtles. Fibropapillomatosis is a global disease epizootic (animal epidemic) that is hampering marine turtle conservation. We investigate the environmentally and virally induced genetic changes driving sea turtle fibropapillomatosis. Leveraging Whitney’s state-of-the-art Sea Turtle Hospital and laboratory facilities, we apply genomic, molecular and imaging techniques, as well as One Health and precision medicine approaches to sea turtle disease.