Prof David Harding PhD, BSc

Harding’s MU profile is highlighted by two issues above all others: development of the Hydrophobic Charge Induction Chromatography (HCIC) system for protein purification and a 1999 Massey University Research Fund (MURF, $96,000) grant awarded to him for a two year postdoctoral fellowship (PDF). The HCIC system is now a commercially available product that has seen papers, patents and royalty returns (USD30,000 p.a. - still active in 2019) credited to Massey University. The MURF PDF gave him the opportunity to expand his career in the development of polymer systems from the synthesis of peptides and small proteins and the purification of larger natural proteins into the world of hydrogels for drug delivery and waste water treatment. Indeed, this MURF grant laid the foundation for his still current network in the Middle East.

The analytical demands of this aspect of his career led to his producing analytical techniques and protocols. Chemical analytical systems have been developed as needed. His modest public publication record (h = 22) runs alongside a number of commercial projects. The contents of numerous confidential commercial reports unfortunately cannot be discussed in detail.

What issues that can be noted are listed as follows:

• Contractual research for the Lactose Company, NZ Ltd in collaboration with Industrial Research Ltd. NZ.
• Massey University New Technology Award, 1997 for Mixed Mode Chromatographic Resins for Low Cost Protein Purification.
• MURF - New Hydrogels for Controlled Drug Delivery - two years funding $96,000 for a postdoctoral fellow and expenses.
• Major equipment $710,050 grant from The Wellcome Trust, U.K. which was augmented by $100,000 from Massey University to allow the purchase of a MALDI R/L and a ZMD ESI mass spectrometer, a half-time technician salary and working expenses for 3 years  
• Marsden Grant of $575,000 over 3 years for a study aimed at the Design and Synthesis of Hydrogel Scaffolds to Support Liver Cell Growth. The funds covered postdoctoral level studies.
• Contractual research for KiwiTech Ltd (part of Fonterra) with funding $478,000 for three years investigative research into the development of new products for them.
• MURF grant for the study From Mucus to Unique Giant Polymers - two years funding $121,000 for a postdoctoral fellow and expenses.
• Massey University Grant $155,999 for an AKTA Explorer 100 protein purification facility.
• Memorandum of Understanding - Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt.
• Memorandum of Understanding - Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.
• New Zealand Industry of Chemistry Fonterra Prize, Excellence in Industrial & Applied Chemistry.
• Contractual research for NZ Pharmaceuticals, Linton and Life Technologies (NZ) Ltd, Auckland/Nelson.

In more recent times, his interests have also taken on the following topics:

• Nanocellulose hydrogels for, in particular, drug delivery
• Pain relief when dealing with farm animals: for example, dehorning and castration.
• Approaches to dealing with the nematode problem in NZ with respect to ruminants.