Dr. Pádraig J. Duignan has over three decades of experience in marine mammal diagnostics and research in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom and Ireland, placing him as one of the top research pathologists in his field of study.

His research is mainly focused on diseases that impact marine mammals of the West Coast, including coronavirus infection in West Coast marine mammals, domoic acid poisoning in sea lions and sea otters, the epidemiology of leptospirosis in sea lions and phocids, and protozoal pathogens of pinnipeds and sea otters but particularly Sarcocystis myositis in sea lions. He is also an active member of the Sea Lion Cancer Consortium, a group of specialists investigating cancer in California sea lions.