Dr. Troy Sutton PhD
Dr. Sutton completed his graduate training at the University of British Columbia, Canada, and then pursued postdoctoral research at the University of Maryland and National Institutes of Health, USA. In 2017, he became an Assistant Professor at the Pennsylvania State University, and he earned tenure in 2024.
In July of 2026, Dr. Sutton will join VIDO as a Principal Scientist. At VIDO, Dr. Sutton will continue to advance research focused on pandemic risk assessment of emerging influenza viruses. This work includes using animal models to: 1) understand the molecular determinants of viral pathogenesis and transmission, and 2) determine how preexisting immunity to seasonal influenza viruses impacts replication and disease caused by emerging influenza viruses. In parallel to risk assessment studies, Dr. Sutton’s research also focuses on developing novel influenza vaccines for humans and animals. Dr. Sutton has a depth of expertise work in high-containment research laboratories with highly pathogenic avian influenza, and he has recently published in leading journals such as Nature Communications, Science Translational Medicine, and Science Advances.
Research Interests:
- Molecular determinants of airborne transmission of human influenza viruses
- Pandemic risk assessment of emerging influenza viruses
- Human and animal influenza vaccine development
Current Projects:
- Pathogenesis of highly pathogenic H5N1 in animal models
- Impact of pre-existing immunity to seasonal influenza viruses on replication and transmission of H5N1 and H9N2 viruses in ferrets
- Replication and transmission fitness of human influenza viruses in ferrets