Summary
Nikita Harvey is currently working as an NMR Technician within the National Phenome Centre, situated within the Division of Systems Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction. This involves data acquisition on and maintenance of two 600 MHz spectrometers for large-scale metabonomics studies on human biofluids, and running of the laboratory preparing samples and buffers for analysis. In addition, Nikita is partially responsible for bookings, safety and troubleshooting for the divisional NMR lab, comprising three 600 MHz spectrometers. She is an accredited Research Scientist (RSci) with the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Nikita has also recently successfully defended her PhD in Clinical Medicine funded by the National Phenome Centre, optimising diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) methods for incorporation into the standard NMR metabolic phenotyping approach. This work adds an extra dimension to the current metabolic phenotyping approach and could be an exciting step forward in the field of precision medicine.
Previously within the department, she was involved in the Bill Gates Foundation funded Breast Milk, Gut Microbiome and Immunity project, preparing biological samples for analysis by NMR and LC-MS. In her previous employment, Nikita worked for Hammersmith Medicines Research Ltd. as a Medical Laboratory Assistant, analysing Phase I/II clinical trial biological samples using various instruments.
Nikita's initial studies were focused on the analysis of protein structures. She obtained her BSC Hons from Imperial College London in Biochemistry, during which she worked with Dr Rivka Isaacson on optimisation of buffer conditions for NMR spectroscopy on the alpha subunit of a heterotrimeric G protein. This was followed by an MRes in Structural Biology (Merit) from Birkbeck, University of London. During Nikita's research masters' degree, she worked with Professor Carolyn Moores to study the mechanism of kinesin-13 microtubule depolymerisation using PCR and electron microscopy.
Outside her working hours, Nikita enjoys playing the violin/viola as part of the Imperial College String Ensemble, and reads classic literature, fantasy, and history books.
Publications
Journals
Harvey N, Takis PG, Lindon JC, et al., 2023, Optimization of diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy experiments for high-throughput automation in human metabolic phenotyping, Analytical Chemistry, Vol:95, ISSN:0003-2700, Pages:3147-3152
Takis PG, Jiménez B, Al-Saffar NMS, et al., 2021, A computationally lightweight algorithm for deriving reliable metabolite panel measurements from 1D 1H NMR., Analytical Chemistry, Vol:93, ISSN:0003-2700, Pages:4995-5000
Rodriguez-Martinez A, Ayala R, Posma JM, et al., 2019, pJRES Binning Algorithm (JBA): a new method to facilitate the recovery of metabolic information from pJRES 1H NMR spectra, Bioinformatics, Vol:35, ISSN:1367-4803, Pages:1916-1922
Jimenez B, Holmes E, Heude C, et al., 2018, Quantitative lipoprotein subclass and low molecular weight metabolite analysis in human serum and plasma by 1H NMR spectroscopy in a multilaboratory trial, Analytical Chemistry, Vol:90, ISSN:0003-2700, Pages:11962-11971
Panic G, Coulibaly JT, Harvey N, et al., 2018, Characterizing the Biochemical Response to Schistosoma mansoni Infection and Treatment with Praziquantel in Preschool and School Aged Children, Journal of Proteome Research, Vol:17, ISSN:1535-3893, Pages:2028-2033