Luis Ochoa Carrera

Bio

Mr. Ochoa currently serves as the High-Containment Lab/Pandemic Safety Manager for Michigan State University and the Alternate Responsible Official for the Federal Select Agent Program at MSU. Mr. Ochoa has more than 13 years of experience in the field of Biosafety and Biosecurity and experience in serological and molecular diagnosis of respiratory viral infections, exanthematic febrile diseases, HIV, herpes viruses, vector-borne diseases, and antibiotic resistance in hospitalized patients.

Mr. Ochoa previously served as the Director of the Epidemiological Surveillance and Research Laboratory Network of the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS) from the Ministry of Health in Mexico. From March 2013 to October 2019 he served as BSL-3 Lab Coordinator at the National Reference Laboratory in Mexico. As the head of the BSL-3 in Mexico he supported the development and implementation of the CWA 15793 (nowadays the ISO 35001 standard), the CWA 16335, and the ISO:9001:2015 standards. Additionally, Mr. Ochoa has participated as a representative of Mexico in the plenary meetings of the Australia Group, and other related events of the Biological Weapons Convention and participated as an expert in the field of Biosurveillance, Biosecurity, Epidemiological Emergency Response and Bioterrorism with the Department of Defense of the United States of America (USSOUTHCOM) and the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies.

Mr. Ochoa received a Master's Degree in Public Health Management focused on Biological Risk Management. He has been an ABSA-International member since 2014, served as the Chair of the Publications Committee, serves as member of the International Engagement Committee, and international editor for Applied Biosafety Journal. As one of the eighteen founding members and past President of the Mexican Biosafety Association (AMEXBIO), he has strengthened the network between biosafety professionals in the region and helped to create strategic alliances with international and national institutions. Additionally, Mr. Ochoa is a member of several biosafety associations like the American Biological Safety Association, the Canadian Association for Biological Safety, the European Biosafety Association.

In 2019 he participated in the 1st Edition of the Biosecurity and Diplomacy Workshop from UNODA (United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs).In addition, Mr. Ochoa has served as a mentor of the International Twinning Project from Sandia National Laboratories, the Next Generation Global Health Security Network, and the IFBA Mentorship Program since 2021. In addition, Mr. Ochoa is part of the Safety and Security Committee for iGEM and serves as Senior Advisor for PandemicTech since 2016.

Other credentials and certifications that Mr. Ochoa has include: the WHO Certified Expeditor for the transport of infectious substances and certifications in four disciplines: Biorisk Management, Biological Risk Assessment, Biocontainment Facility Design, Operations and & Maintenance, and Biosafety Cabinet Selection, Installation and Safe Use all from the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA).