RESEARCH TEAM

Juan Manuel Mancilla Tapia, M.A. is the Founder and CEO of OBI K19, a visionary leader in canine biodetection innovation with experience as Principal Investigator for CONACYT-funded projects validating COVID-19 detection dogs and advancing VOC biomarker research—publishing in Frontiers in Medicine, PLOS ONE, and Scientific Reports. Principal Investigator on the first grapevine virus K9 biodetection project, he has translated laboratory research into real-world applications—first with COVID-19 detection deployed with Nestlé Purina Mexico, and later with agricultural biodetection pilots at vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, and Paso Robles for Ridge Vineyards, Kendall Jackson, and others. He has built academic partnerships with the University of Arizona, CINVESTAV, CICESE, and Universidad de Sonora, and established a strong network in California's wine industry, positioning him to lead K9 biodetection expansion into the cattle industry for screwworm detection. With operational experience managing complex deployments, participation in the WHO International K9 Working Group, and a proven ability to bridge science with field application, Juan Manuel is uniquely qualified to lead OBI K9's mission of protecting agriculture through early, sustainable canine detection.

Eugenio Figueroa is a seasoned viticulturist with over two decades of experience in vineyard operations and nursery management, currently serving as Viticulture Advisor for Guillaume Grapevine Nursery and Director of Operations at Atlas Vineyard Management Company. At OBI K9, he plays a key role in the development of our Viticulture Biodetection Project, guiding R&D and operational strategy to ensure our K9 detection technology is practical, effective, and seamlessly integrated into real-world vineyard applications. A strong advocate for sustainable farming, Eugenio holds a solid educational foundation in viticulture, enology, and biological sciences.

Medical doctor with a specialty in anesthesiology, and practitioner for the Mexican Social Security Institute (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, IMSS). Dr. Chavez is OBI-K19’s medical advisor regarding patients with COVID-19.

PhD. Biological Sciences (Parasite ecology) from the University of Exeter, Exeter, UK. BSc. Biology from Universidad Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM). Staff member in the Aquatic Pathology Laboratory of the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV in Spanish) in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Dr. Vidal is our lead researcher and advisor for the COVID-19 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) characterization study.

Cofundadora, investigadora y consultora en biodetección canina y perros de servicio en personas con condiciones médicas. Miembro clave en la gestión de nuestro proyecto de investigación biomédica de detección canina de COVID-19 con el Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT).