Frank Griffin

Biography

 Professor Frank Griffin is the Director of the Ag@Otago research theme at the University of Otago, a new initiative drawing on the strengths in plant and animal production, food and health, and sustainability. With over 40 years experience in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology he is a consultant to many international committees and consortia, and a member of societies of immunology and microbiology in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Professor Frank Griffin was the founding director of DRL, which has been carrying out research on mycobacterial diseases (tuberculosis/paratuberculosis) in ruminants and wildlife species for the past 35 years. In the past decade their work has led to the development of improved immunodiagnostics and molecular techniques for the detection of paratuberculosis (Johnes disease). DRL has recently identified deer breeds with polarised phenotypes for resistance and susceptibility to paratuberculosis. DRL is now a part of Otago Innovation Limited.

Research Interest

 Applied and molecular immunology, animal disease.