| Associate Professor Ben Herbert | |
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Current Appointment: Director Contact Details: Proteomics Technology Centre of Expertise Office: Building 4, Room 6.64B Phone: 9514 2842 Fax: 9514 8206 Laboratory - CB06.06.44: 9514 8374 Mobile: 0411 849 118 Email: Ben.Herbert@uts.edu.au Qualifications1995 - 1997 Ph. D. (Biochemistry)Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia School of Biological Sciences and Australian Proteome Analysis Facility Thesis title: “Advances in Two-dimensional Electrophoresis for Proteome Projects” 1986 - 1989 Christchurch Polytechnic, Christchurch, New Zealand NZCS. (Chemistry) BiographyBen Herbert has more than twenty years experience in protein chemistry, sample preparation, fractionation and electrophoresis, particularly isoelectric focusing and two-dimensional electrophoresis. Within this he has 11 years experience in technology development and commercialisation. Recognition of A/Prof Herbert as one of key innovators in sample preparation, fractionation and the use of 2-D PAGE for protein separation has resulted in many conference presentations. These include plenary presentations in 1998, 2000 and 2002 at the Siena proteomics meeting “From Genome to Proteome”, a leading international conference in proteome and genome technologies and their applications.In 1999, A/Prof Herbert co-founded the biotechnology company Proteome Systems, where he served full time as the Vice President of Technology Development (1999-2004) and then Head of Sample Preparation (2004-2006). This company is Australia’s largest proteomics company, employs ~ 50 staff and is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (code: PXL). A/Prof Herbert played an active role in establishing and managing Proteome Systems IP portfolio in the sample preparation, fractionation and electrophoresis areas. In collaboration with Prof. Pier Giorgio Righetti (Verona University, Italy), he was instrumental developing the new electrophoresis technologies and methods that underpin Proteome Systems IsoelectrIQ2 and ElectrophoretIQ3 instruments. By integrating industrial design, engineering and informatics with electrophoresis expertise these innovative instruments display a level of sophistication that is unique in electrophoresis technology. A/Prof Herbert has authored over 45 research and review papers and book chapters, despite the limitations imposed on publishing during 7 years in senior management at Proteome Systems. His research published in journals has been cited 1649 times (ISI Web of Knowledge Feb 2006). He is an inventor on four patent families in the area of sample fractionation, and on eight patent families relating to inventions in gel array technology. In Feb 2006, A/Prof Herbert was recruited by the University of Technology, Sydney, to his current position as Director of the Proteomics Technology Centre of Expertise. The Proteomics Technology Centre of Expertise has eight staff ranging from professional officers to technical assistants. A/Prof Herbert was recruited to UTS because of his experience in proteomics and the setup and operation of core facilities. In addition, A/Prof Herbert’s experience in intellectual property and commercialisation was a key factor in his recruitment. The Proteomics Technology Centre of Expertise has a strategic partnership with Bio-Rad and is working with Bio-Rad on a number of development areas. Ben is also active in supervising PhD, masters and honours students. A key area of A/Prof Herbert’s current research and technology development involves fractionation and new solubilisation methods for membrane proteins. Intellectual PropertyA/Prof Herbert has been involved in patenting and developing intellectual property since moving to Australia in 1995. The focus of A/Prof Herbert's IP development has been around novel methods for sample preparation, fractionation and electrophoresis. In addition, A/Prof Herbert has developed and patented various instruments and devices for electrophoresis.At Proteome Systems A/Prof Herbert was been a member of the IP committee since the inception of the company, with responsibility for developing a patent portfolio to support the commercialisation of the sample preparation and electrophoresis products. Commercialisation1995-1998 Australian Proteome Analysis Facility – APIRD grantThe Australian Proteome Industrial Research and Development (APIRD) grant was the result of a consortium formed between APAF and a number of companies involved in the development and marketing of instruments in the proteome area, including Bio-Rad Laboratories. Three areas of APAF IP were commercialised by Bio-Rad 1. Sample preparation kits – ReadyPrep kitsA/Prof Herbert was the APAF scientist responsible for the development with Bio-Rad. During an intensive period of development in 1997 and 1998 A/Prof Herbert formed a close working relationship with the product development and marketing teams at Bio-Rad’s head office in San Francisco. These products are still selling strongly and royalties are paid by Bio-Rad to Macquarie University. 1999-2005 Proteome Systems During the development of Proteome Systems’ technology platform a number of partnerships were formed. In the area of sample preparation and electrophoresis the main partnership was with Sigma Aldrich, headquartered in St Louis, MO. A/Prof Herbert and his team worked closely with The Sigma Aldrich development and marketing teams to transfer Proteome Systems sample preparation technology. The Sigma ProteoPrep extraction and reduction and alkylation kits still represent the state of the art in protein extraction for 2-D gel analysis. The collaboration with Sigma Aldrich extended to considerable involvement in designing marketing material and supplying detailed protocols for technical bulletins. Key CollaborationsSoon after the founding of Proteome Systems in 1999 A/Prof Herbert began collaborating with Prof. Pier Giorgio Righetti. Prof. Righetti was based at Verona University and has recently been appointed to lead a new facility and research group in proteome analysis at the prestigious Polytechnic School of Milan, Italy.A/Prof Herbert and Prof. Righetti pioneered the introduction of multicompartment electrolyser technology for proteomics. Their collaboration has yielded 15 papers and reviews on sample preparation, protein chemistry, fractionation and IPG technology. Prof. Righetti is a co-inventor with A/Prof Herbert on a number of patents and patent applications. EmploymentFeb 2006 - PresentUniversity of Technology, Sydney Director: Proteomics Technology Centre of Expertise Jan 1999 – Feb 2006 Proteome Systems North Ryde, Sydney, Australia Head of sample preparation and separations technology development 1995 – 1998 Secondment - Australian Proteome Analysis Facility (APAF) Macquarie University North Ryde, Sydney, Australia Research Scientist 1990 – 1998 Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand Christchurch, New Zealand Research Scientist 1986 – 1990 Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Chemistry Division, Food Laboratory Christchurch, New Zealand Research Technician PublicationsBook ChaptersWalsh BJ, Herbert BR. Casting and running vertical slab-gel electrophoresis for 2D-PAGE. In Methods in Molecular Biology : 2-D Proteome Analysis Protocols. Ed. AJ Link. Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ. pp 245-253. Ben R. Herbert, Jean-Charles Sanchez and Luca Bini. Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis: The State of the Art and Future Directions. In, Wilkins, M.R., Williams, K.L., Appel, R.D. & Hochstrasser, D.F., eds (1997) Proteome Research: New Frontiers in Functional Genomics. Springer-Verlag. Berlin, Germany. Ben R. Herbert, Pier Giorgio Righetti, John McCarthy, Jasmine Grinyer, Annalisa Castagna, Matthew Laver, Matthew Durack, Gerard Rummery, Robecca Harcourt, and Keith L. Williams. Sample Preparation for High–resolution Two–dimensional Electrophoresis by Isoelectric Fractionation in an MCE. In, R. J. Simpson, Ed (2003) Purifying Proteins for Proteomics: A Laboratory Manual Ben Herbert. Some practices and pitfalls of sample preparation for isoelectric focusing in proteomics. In, D. Garfin, S. Ahuja, (Eds) 2005 Handbook of Isoelectric Focusing and Proteomics Vol. 7. Elsevier, May 2005. Herbert BR, Righetti PG, Citterio A, Boschetti E (2007) Sample preparation for prefractionation techniques for electrophoresis-based proteomics. In: Proteome Research: concepts, technology and application. Editors: Wilkins, Appel, Hochstrasser. Springer, Berlin, in press 20th Jan 2007. Refereed Papers
Granted US Patents
Abstract An electrophoresis apparatus for the simultaneous electrophoretic separation of a plurality of component mixtures using a disposable tray having a plurality of parallel troughs shaped to retain an elongate strip of isoelectric focusing medium and sufficient liquid to immerse the elongate strip. A frame is provided to retain the tray in a horizontal position using a pair of rotatably mounted support members moving between an open and closed position. Support members are also connected to a plurality of electrodes aligned with each of the troughs so that the electrodes are positioned clear of the troughs in the open position and positioned in the troughs when in the closed position.
Abstract A method for separating a sample into components by two-dimensional electrophoresis uses an IPG strip, and a gel slab which are spaced apart and carried on a single generally planar support means. The planar support means is first oriented in a generally vertical plane and the first electrophoretic separation medium is oriented in a horizontal plane spaced above or below the second electrophoretic separation medium by a gap. A first dimension separation of a sample mixture in the strip is then carried out while the strip and slab are separated by a non-electrically conducting liquid which is substantially immiscible with water and is non-extractive of water preferably paraffin oil. After the first separation has been carried the support means is tilted so that the first strip is at an angle to the horizontal and the paraffin is flushed out from the gap between the strip and the slab. Next agarose gel containing buffer is flowed into the gap to allow transfer of sample molecules from the strip to the slab under the influence of an electric field. |
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