Mike Herbert Email & Phone Number

Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand

Editing of papers in microbiology, biochemistry, virology, oncology, osteology, nanomaterials, nanomedicine, clinical studies, pharmacology, and similar fields.

Auckland, New Zealand

Oversaw manufacture of in vitro diagnostic device, a miniaturised multiplex ELISA for detection of congenital diseases (ToRCH); supported transfer of ELISA for evaluation of immune response to SARS-CoV-2 from R&D into manufacturing.Procuring new equipment; ensuring equipment was validated for use. Ensured audit passed with no nonconformances; ensured compliance of facility and documentation; organisation and transfer of lab equipment and facilities to new premises.

Auckland, New Zealand

GMP production of human vaccinesSupported projects in human vaccine manufacture at GMP. This including protein purification, qPCR, and ELISAs. Working in clean-rooms to controlled SOPs and strict regulatory guidelines.

Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand

RT-qPCR analysis of clinical study samples.Helping develop new diagnostic techniques for prostate cancer based on RT-qPCR analysis of RNA from urine exosomes. Included handling clinical samples, exosome isolation, RNA extraction, and cDNA synthesis, qPCR set-up and analysis (Roche LightCycler 480 II), primer design using TCGA and similar genomic data sets and bioinformatic tools. Statistical analysis in R and excel, report writing.

Auckland, New Zealand

Flow cytometry analysis of blood samples from multiple sclerosis clinical trialRunning and analysing flow cytometry experiments on 700 patient samples (using an LSRII with FACS DIVA and FlowJo software) in a Phase 2B clinical trial. This provided research support for a bacterial derived biopharmaceutical drug produced on site in Auckland, under Medsafe regulations, for treatment of multiple sclerosis.Made redundant in October 2017 as the company is being wound-up following a… Show more Flow cytometry analysis of blood samples from multiple sclerosis clinical trialRunning and analysing flow cytometry experiments on 700 patient samples (using an LSRII with FACS DIVA and FlowJo software) in a Phase 2B clinical trial. This provided research support for a bacterial derived biopharmaceutical drug produced on site in Auckland, under Medsafe regulations, for treatment of multiple sclerosis.Made redundant in October 2017 as the company is being wound-up following a disappointing clinical trial result. Show less

Auckland, New Zealand

Characterising the interaction of an orf poxvirus ankyrin protein with a human cellular protein. This involved assessing and developing purification protocols for recombinant proteins and complexes, and use of appropriate characterisation methods. Proteins were cloned, expressed and then purified via AKTA FPLC using affinity, ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography. These were then characterised using a combination of complementary techniques, including:SDS PAGE, mass… Show more Characterising the interaction of an orf poxvirus ankyrin protein with a human cellular protein. This involved assessing and developing purification protocols for recombinant proteins and complexes, and use of appropriate characterisation methods. Proteins were cloned, expressed and then purified via AKTA FPLC using affinity, ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography. These were then characterised using a combination of complementary techniques, including:SDS PAGE, mass spectrometry, dynamic light scattering, multi-angle light scattering, protein crystallisation, small angle X-ray scattering at the Australian Synchrotron, Melbourne.Potential models of the three-dimensional protein complex were then prepared using crystallographic and SAXS-based software.I paper published: Poxviral ankyrin proteins. Herbert, M., Squire, C., and Mercer, A. 2015; Viruses 7(2):709-38. Show less

Auckland, New Zealand

Assessing use of siRNA technology as therapeutics in cancer models. Involved use of cell-biology and siRNA transfection, RNA purification from cell-assays and tissues, with cDNA synthesis and real-time qPCR analysis of expression levels using Roche LightCycler or ABI 7600 systems. Three papers published describing this work:The importance of RT-qPCR primer design for the detection of siRNA-mediated mRNA silencing. Herbert, M., Coppieters, N., Lasham, A., Cao, H., and Reid, G… Show more Assessing use of siRNA technology as therapeutics in cancer models. Involved use of cell-biology and siRNA transfection, RNA purification from cell-assays and tissues, with cDNA synthesis and real-time qPCR analysis of expression levels using Roche LightCycler or ABI 7600 systems. Three papers published describing this work:The importance of RT-qPCR primer design for the detection of siRNA-mediated mRNA silencing. Herbert, M., Coppieters, N., Lasham, A., Cao, H., and Reid, G. 2011; BMC Research Notes, 4: 148.The potency of siRNA-mediated growth inhibition following silencing of essential genes is dependent on siRNA design and varies with target sequence. Patel, R., Coppieters, N., Herbert, M., White, D., Murison, J.G., and Reid, G. 2009; Oligonucleotides, 19(4): 317-328. A rapid and sensitive method to detect siRNA-mediated mRNA cleavage in vivo using 5'RACE and a Molecular Beacon probe. Lasham, A., Herbert, M., Feng, S., Eszes, M., Cao, H. and Reid, G. 2009; Nucleic Acid Research, 38(3): e19. Show less

Salisbury, United Kingdom

Managing containment level III laboratory to UK regulations (MAF, ACDP, ACGM, ISO9001, HSE).Managing team of up to six people with developing qualified assays (ELISAs and cell-biology assay), protocols, and reagents to provide additional analysis of the UK's anthrax vaccine, manufactured on site under GMP. Cloning and assessing recombinant vaccine alternatives.One paper published, and one patent approved:A study of the physiology of Bacillus anthracis Sterne during… Show more Managing containment level III laboratory to UK regulations (MAF, ACDP, ACGM, ISO9001, HSE).Managing team of up to six people with developing qualified assays (ELISAs and cell-biology assay), protocols, and reagents to provide additional analysis of the UK's anthrax vaccine, manufactured on site under GMP. Cloning and assessing recombinant vaccine alternatives.One paper published, and one patent approved:A study of the physiology of Bacillus anthracis Sterne during manufacture of the UK acellular anthrax vaccine. Charlton, S., Herbert, M., McGlashan, J., King, A., Jones, P., West, K., Roberts, A., Silman, N., Marks, T., Hudson, M., and Hallis, B. 2007; J. Appl. Microbiol., 103(5): 1453-60. Preparation of protection antigen (Bacillus anthracis). Patent: US20120045794. Priority date: June 2004. Allison, N, Arroyo, J., Brehm, J., Brehm, R., Herbert, M., Jack, G., Lapcevich, R. K., McEntee, I., Solow, B., Vincent, P. Show less

Salisbury, United Kingdom

Worked on a variety of projects including producing protein for proof of principal testing as a novel pain therapeutic, and characterising pathogenic and anaerobic bacterial genetic systems.This involved PCR, mutagenesis, cloning, protein expression, protein purification with AKTA FPLC, and protein characterisation using SDS PAGE and Western blotting. Also used protein purification under high biological containment, and management of lab facilities to meet ISO9001 quality and UK health… Show more Worked on a variety of projects including producing protein for proof of principal testing as a novel pain therapeutic, and characterising pathogenic and anaerobic bacterial genetic systems.This involved PCR, mutagenesis, cloning, protein expression, protein purification with AKTA FPLC, and protein characterisation using SDS PAGE and Western blotting. Also used protein purification under high biological containment, and management of lab facilities to meet ISO9001 quality and UK health and safety requirements. Four papers were published:The development of Clostridium difficile genetic systems. Minton, N., Carter, G., Herbert, M., O'Keeffe, T., Purdy, D., Elmore, M., Ostrowski, A., Pennington, O., and Davis, I. 2004; Anaerobe, 10(2): 75-84. Gene transfer into Clostridium difficile CD630 and characterisation of its methylase genes. Herbert, M., O'Keeffe, T.A., Purdy, D., Elmore, M., and Minton, N.P. 2003; FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 229(1): 103-10. Conjugative transfer of clostridial shuttle vectors from Escherichia coli to Clostridium difficile through circumvention of the restriction barrier. Purdy, D., O'Keeffe, T.A., Elmore, M., Herbert, M., McLeod, A., Bokori-Brown, M., Ostrowski, A., and Minton, N.P. 2002; Mol. Microbiol., 46(2): 439-52. oExpression and purification of catalytically active, non-toxic endopeptidase derivatives of Clostridium botulinum toxin type A. Chaddock, J.A., Herbert M., Ling, R.J., Alexander, F.C., Fooks, S.J., Revell D. F., Quinn, C.P., Shone, C.C., and Foster. K.A. 2002; Protein Expr. Purif., 25(2): 219-28. Show less

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Biochemistry, Biophysics And Molecular Biology

Master'S Degree, Biotechnology

Bachelor'S Degree, Microbiology, General