Mr Nicholas Mwikwabe

Mr Nicholas Mwikwabe

Biosecurity & biosafety specialist

Biosafety Systems Specialist and High-Containment Lab Auditor with IFBA Triple-Certification. Assistant Principal Research Scientist for HSE, Biosafety & Biosecurity at KEMRI HQ.

Core Qualifications

  • Operational Leadership: Assistant Principal Research Scientist: HSE, Biosafety & Biosecurity (KEMRI HQ)

  • Certified by: IFBA (Biorisk, Biosecurity, Cyberbiosecurity), Africa CDC (HCATs/Pandemic Pathogens)

  • Global Standards: WHO/IATA Accredited Trainer; WHO GCLP Lead Auditor

Key Achievements

  • Co-authored landmark study on SARS-CoV-2 variants in Kenya (Nature, 2022), informing East Africa's surveillance strategy

  • Implemented biosecurity protocols for KEMRI's BSL-3 labs during COVID-19 (2020–2023), processing 1M+ samples

  • Trained 500+ lab technicians across Kenya/Tanzania in WHO/IATA specimen transport and LIMS data security

Technical Specialization

Containment Labs

  • BSL-3/4 operations
  • HCATs handling

Compliance

  • OSHA
  • NEMA
  • ISO 35001 audits

Cyberbiosecurity

  • LIMS protection
  • Genomic data governance

Forensics

  • DNA analysis chain-of-custody (Interpol standards)

Education

  • MSc Molecular Medicine: JKUAT
  • BSc Biochemistry/Zoology: Kenyatta University

Certifications

  • IFBA Certified in Biorisk Management
  • IFBA Certified in Biosecurity
  • IFBA Certified in Cyberbiosecurity
  • Africa CDC HCATs Expert
  • WHO/IATA Accredited Trainer
  • WHO GCLP Lead Auditor

Publications & Links