John is the Director of the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources and serves as the University Attending Veterinarian for Duke University, working with the Vice Dean and Dean to ensure the welfare of all animals at the institution. He also serves as a Professor of Pathology at Duke University and an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Sciences at North Carolina State University (NCSU) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM).
He has 30 years of laboratory animal medicine and translational research experience, including serving as Study Director and/or Manager in over 150 preclinical pharmacology and safety studies in the private sector. In addition, he has been integrally involved in the design and function of complex, multi-functional animal facilities located internationally and regularly consults and presents regarding biomedical research management and solutions. Dr. Norton is an Emeritus member of the AAALAC International Council on Accreditation and is a Past President of the AAALAC International Council. His collaborative research focuses on extrinsic factors that may influence the animal research model, including specializing in noise and vibration effects.
Norton received Bachelor of Science degrees in Biochemistry and Animal Science from NCSU, then received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the NCSU-CVM. He received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University, where his research was supported by an individual postdoctoral T32 grant and a Physician Scientist Award (K11). John is a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and the American Board of Toxicology (1995-2020).