I studied veterinary medicine in Mexico & Germany and graduated from Ludwig Maximilian University, LMU, Muenchen in 1988. From 1988 - 1990 I worked at Panaftosa, Brazil to develop an FMD DIVA Ab ELISA, which became the theme of my dissertation. 1992-93 I participated in a postgraduate course for tropical veterinary medicine at the Free University, Berlin. In 1995 I started as Technical Officer at the Joint FAO/IAEA in Vienna, Austria for animal health projects in Latin America. During eight years I worked with diagnostic laboratories in South America and became familiar with the transfer and validation of diagnostic tests and their interpretation in different epidemiological circumstances. The second half of my assignment I was in charge of a global proficiency testing program, which allowed laboratories from developing countries to take steps in establishing quality systems with the support of IAEA's technical department. This role allowed me to interact with OIE and IAEA to develop standards, methods and guidelines for test validation, proficiency testing, establishment of quality systems and laboratory accreditation. After finishing my UN term in 2003 I was offered a position as Veterinary Diagnostic Scientist at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, CSIRO where I continue to develop and introduce new validation methodologies for new test reagents and platforms for infectious diseases. I see test validation as the “missing link” between diagnosis and epidemiology and consider AAHL’s designation in 2017 as an OIE Collaborative Centre for Diagnostic Test Validation Science jointly with the University of Melbourne and Massey University, NZ a highlight of my career. This international scientific consortium combines expertise in diagnostic test development for exotic and endemic infectious diseases and epidemiology and allows for more efficient integration of diagnostic test development and validation for different epidemiological settings and purposes.
Listed skills include Veterinary, Data Validation, Diagnostic Tests, Emerging Infectious Diseases, and 6 others.