Michael Seed

Dr Michael Seed

Professor of Pharmacology

Professor

School of Health, Sports & Biosciences , School Of Health, Sport And Bioscience

Michael Seed is Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology within UEL's School of Health, Sport and Bioscience and Director of the Clinical Research Group. 

Michael Seed

OVERVIEW

Michael's research centres on chronic inflammatory disease. He is researching into Loin Pain Haematuria Syndrome (LPHS), considered to be the most painful syndrome known to humanity. He is working on the Crohn's Colitis UK funded EXAT Trial into exercise and the alleviation of  Crohn's disease in collaboration with Hertfordshire, Northumbria and Winchester Universities, and Guy's, Bart's, and Hampshire NHS Trusts. He has an interest in novel therapeutics, and is researching into novel heparinoids for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as kinases. He has a special interest in the 3Rs and welfare associated with arthritis integrative modelling, working with the Royal Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (RSPCA) as a member of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Models Expert Working Group.  He graduated in Pharmacology, with a PhD from the University of Bath, followed by a short term lectureship in Pharmacy and Pharmacology. Having had a placement in experimental surgery and toxicology with Huntingdon Life Sciences, he joined the pharmaceutical industry (Roussel Laboratories and then Hoechst) in arthritis Drug Discovery focussing on in arthritis and angiogenesis disease modelling, drug screening and target validation, and working on leflunomide analogues, phospholipase A2 and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors. He continued his development of inflammatory, rheumatoid and cancer integrative disease models concentrating on transdermal drug delivery, joint destruction, and angiogenesis in the Department of Experimental Pathology, Saint Bartholomew's Medical College, as an Honorary Senior Lecturer, and then Joint Head of the Experimental Pathology Group at Barts & the London School of Medicine & Dentistry.  He held a William Harvey Inflammation Research Fellowship for some years and a Sir Halley Stewart Trust Lectureship lecturing and researching in inflammopharmacology and drug discovery in the Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology. He worked on dissociated steroid drug discovery developing an integrative modelling programme to separate anti-rheumatic actions from hyperglycaemic and osteoporotic side effects, as well as kinase inhibitors as part of the Macrocept and Kinacept EU CRAFT and FP7 programmes. Michael was an elected Member of Council and Trustee of the British Pharmacological Society (2012-15), and a member of the Education and Outreach Committee. He is now Co-Chair (Basic Science) of the Education Affinity group. He is a Trustee of the League of Mercy, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, and Reader for the Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education. He is a member of the University Research Ethics Committee, and Legal Sponsor for Clinical Research.

External roles

  • Trustee, League of Mercy
  • Reader The Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education
  • Co-Chair (Basic Science) British Pharmacological Society Education and Skills Affinity Group
  • Organising Committee World Congress of Inflammation 2017
  • External Examiner University of Bedfordshire

CURRENT RESEARCH

Auto-immune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, are crippling, very painful and lead to an early death. Michael's research focuses on the discovery and proof of concept of molecular targets amenable to orally active low molecular weight new chemical entities. These are the next generation of anti-autoimmune therapeutics aimed to replace current biologic treatments. Research centres on in vitro and in vivo modelling and molecular analysis of immune and auto-immune disease mechanisms and the associated tissue destruction.

Michael's research centres on novel sulphated heparinoids as well as the role of kinases in rheumatoid arthritis. He is also researching into Loin Pain Haematuria Syndrome, considered to be the most painful syndrome known to humanity. He is working on the Crohn's Colitis UK funded EXAT Trial into exercise and the alleviation of  Crohn's disease in collaboration with Hertfordshire, Northumbria and Winchester Universities, and Guy's, Bart's, and Hampshire NHS Trusts. He has a special interest in the 3Rs and welfare associated with arthritis integrative modelling, working with the Royal Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (RSPCA) as a member of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Models Expert Working Group. 

PI3kinase has been a major interest, funded through the William Harvey Research Foundation. As part of the MACROCEPT EU CRAFT and KINACEPT EUFP7 programmes, the long term cellular effects of p38MAP-kinase inhibitor responses is being investigated with the aim of improving their potential in the clinic.

A collaboration with the University of Manchester on the Wellcome Trust Seeding Drug Discovery Initiative Selective glucocorticoid receptor agonists for the treatment of inflammatory conditions is designing novel anti-rheumatic steroids whose anti-inflammatory properties are dissociated from the life-threatening side effects associated with this drug class. This research adds in silico drug design, chemical synthesis, and gene trans-activation and trans- repression screening in the collaboration, to this laboratory which will differentiate the in vivo anti-rheumatic activity of dissociated steroids from their osteopenic and diabetic side effects. In collaboration with Prof Alan Boyde, Barts Dental Institute, this has involved research and characterisation of new methods of determining steroid induced bone remodelling in rodents utilising XRay, µCT, fluorescent confocal immunohistology, and scanning electron microscopy.

The mechanistic studies of a newly invented set of orally active anti-rheumatic and anti-erosive heparinoid-like NCEs that modulate inflammatory cell differentiation and activation responses. The Gordon van Armand Scholarship Prize research into the role of IKKα in type IV hypersensitivity responses, dendritic cell - T cell interactions which has been published recently.

Patents

  • Sulphated aminosugars with anti-inflammatory properties. Seed M, Burnet M, Gutche HJ. EP/2586786 Published 1 May 2013
  • Formulations of active pharmaceutical ingredients using normal human metabolites. SEED M, Burnet MW, Galvez J. Application number: 61502802. Status: Submitted. Filed date: 29 Jun 2011.
  • Combinations comprising an anti-inflammatory agent and/or an antibacterial agent and a glycosylamine and their use in medicine. JM Galvez, MP Seed, IM Roitt, M Burnet - WO patent WO/2011/083,291, 2011.
  • Treatment of inflammation or autoimmune diseases with sulphated compounds. MP Seed, JA Mancini, L Dugo, M Lees, M Burnet - WO patent WO/2008/152,423, 2008.
  • Use of Sulphated saccharides in the treatment of inflammatory and/or other Inflammatory Diseases. Mancini J, Dugo L, Seed M, Lees M, Burnet M, Gutke HJ. Application number: 0711139.5. Status: Published. Filed date: 11 Jun 2007.
  • Pharmaceutical compositions comprising an angiostatic steroid combined with a hyaluronan title: compositions pharmaceutiques comprenant un steroide angiostatique combine a un hyaluronan. SEED M, Alam C, Willoughby DA. Patent number: WO Patent WO1999001142, 1999.
  • Promotion of wound healing utilizing steroids having reduced deleterious systemic side effects typical of glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and sex steroids. / Promotion de la cicatrisation a l'aide de steroides ayant des effets secondaires systemiques reduits comparativement a ceux habituellement associes aux glucocorticoides, aux mineralcorticoides et aux steroides sexuels. Alam Chandan, Seed Michael P, Willoughby Derek A:  Patent Number: CA 2208916, 1999.

PUBLICATIONS

Publications

  • Applying refinement to the use of mice and rats in rheumatoid arthritis research - Hawkins P, Armstrong R, Boden T, Garside P, Knight K, Lilley E, Seed M, Wilkinson M, Williams RO.. 2015. Inflammopharmacology. Link
  • Does this case hold the answer to one of the worse types of pain in medicine--that of loin pain haematuria syndrome (LPHS) - Russell AR, Chatterjee S, Seed MP. 2015. BMJ Case Reports. Link

Journal Publications

  • A peptide derived from TIMP-3 inhibits multiple angiogenic growth factor receptors and tumour growth and inflammatory arthritis in mice. Chen Y-Y, Brown NJ, Jones MR, Lewis CE, Mujamammi AH, Muthana M, Seed MP and Barker MD Angiogenesis 2013 epub: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10456-013-9389-y I-kappa B kinase (IKKα) activity is required for functional maturation of dendritic cells and acquired immunity to infection. Mancino A, Habbedine M, Johnson E, Luron L, Bebien M, Bajenoff M, Wu X, Karin M, Caamano, Seed MP, Lawrence T. EMBO J 2013 32:816-28.
  • Development of disease-modifying treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. Seed MP. Pharm J. 2009. 282:191-192.
  • Activation of macrophage peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor- by diclofenac results in the induction of cyclooxygenase-2 protein and the synthesis of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Ayoub SS, Botting RM, Joshi A, Seed MP, Colville-Nash PR. Mol. Cell. Biol. 2009 327:101ﾖ110.
  • Randomized double-blind multicentre clinical trial to assess the efficacy of glucosamine/chondroitin sulphate for the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis.  McCarthy G, O'Donovan J, Jones B, McAllister H, Seed M, Mooney C. Veterinary Journal, (2007), 174(1):54-61.
  • Communications Oligo- sulphated disaccharides inhibit human T-lymphocyte tumour necrosis factor (TNFα) synthesis and monocyte differentiation into TNFα synthesis competent macrophages. Isaacs I, Adams S, Burnet M, Seed MP. PHARMACOLOGY 2013.
  • Smyth A, Seed MP. Therapeutic Hypothermia as a Neuroprotectant for Post 'Out-of-Hospital' Cardiac Arrest: a Meta-Analysis. PHARMACOLOGY 2013.
  • Melanocortin receptors are novel effectors of macrophage efferocytosis and promote resolution of inflammation. Montero-Melendez T, Jonassen TEN, Seed MP, Perretti M. Proc. Br. Pharmacological Soc. pA2online.  2012; 9(3): 076P.
  • Development of a robust rat model of glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis as assessed by μCT, S.E.M. and confocal LM. Seed M, Zigmund T, Kvasnica L, Burnet M, Boyde A, Ray D. Sept 2012. 17th International Conference of the Inflammation Research Association, USA.
  • Targeting therapeutics to arthritic joints by antibody specific to post-translationally modified collagen type-II. Hughes, C, Faurholm B, Dell'Accio F, Manzo A, Seed M, Eltawil NM, Amarelli A, Al-Kashi A, Winyard P, Chernajovsky Y. Ann Rheumm Dis 2012 71:A7. EWRR Stockholm.
  • Pre-conditioned MAPK activated protein kinase-2 (MK-2) responses of macrophages to p38 inhibition in the absence of intracellular inhibitor, SB203580. Yousaf  N, Malik N, Lees M, Moradi V, Laufer, S, Albrecht W, Schett G, Burnet M, & Seed M. Sept 2012. 17th International Conference of the Inflammation Research Association, USA 3D imaging methods in quantifying rat femoral bone changes with prednisolone administration:  µCT, SEM and confocal LM. T. Zikmund, L.Kvasnica, D.W. Ray,  M.P. Seed,  M. Burnet, A. Boyde. the International Workshop on Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions, University of Ipswich 2012.
  • Melanocortin receptors are novel effectors of macrophage efferocytosis and promote resolution of inflammation. Montero-Melendez T, Jonassen TEN, Seed M, Perretti M. Proc. Br. Pharmacological Soc. pA2online . 2011; 10 (3): 046P.
  • Mapping pathogenesis of arthritis through small animal models. Vincent TL, Williams RO, Maciewicz R, Silman A, Garside P; for the Arthritis Research UK animal models working group. Rheumatology 2012 51: 1931-41.
  • Targeting Therapeutics To Arthritic Joints. Hughes C, Faurholm B, Dell'Accio F, Manzo A, Seed M, Eltawil N, Marrelli A, Gould D, Subang C, Al-Kashi A, et al.De Bari C, Winyard P, Chernajovsky Y, Nissim A Annual Meeting of the British-Society-for-Rheumatology 2011 Rheumatology 50: 127-127. 2011.
  • Transient Exposure By Macrophages To A P38 Map Kinase Inhibitor Induces Rebound Inhibition Of Mapk-Activated Protein Kinase-2 Signalling. Malik N, Lees M, Moradi V, Albrecht W, Laufer S, Schett G, Burnet M, Seed M. Annual Meeting of the British-Society-for-Rheumatology 2011. Rheumatology 50: 51-51. Apr 2011.
  • In Silico Enzyme And Receptor Fit Screening Of Anti-rheumatic Diglucopyranosylamines: A Novel Application For Determining Mechanism Of Action Of Novel Anti-Rheumatic Drug Candidates Seed MP, Langer T. 10th World Congress on Inflammation, Paris, Inflammation Research 2011 60: 288-289.
  • Mc3 Agonists As Novel Pro-Resolving Therapeutics. Montero-Melendez T, Jonassen T, Seed M, Perretti M. 10th World Congress on Inflammation, Paris, Inflammation Research 60: 269-269. Jun 2011.
  • Differential Joint Disease Expression In Pristane-Induced Arthritis-A Systematic Profile Of Disease Progression In Da/Olahsd Rats. Malik N, Burnet M, Jones R, Schett G, Seed M. 10th World Congress on Inflammation, Paris, FRANCE, 25 Jun 2011 - 29 Jun 2011. Inflammation Research 60: 186-186. Jun 2011.
  • Molecular Engineering Of Short Half Life Small Peptides (Vip, Alpha MSH And Gamma 3msh) Into Latent Associated Peptide (Lap) Results In Targeted Anti-Inflammatory And Anti-Rheumatic Therapeutics. Vessillier S, Adams G, Montero-Melendez T, Jones R, Seed MP, Perretti M, Chernajovsky Y. 10th World Congress on Inflammation, Paris, Inflammation Research. 60: 43-43. Jun 2011.
  • AP214, a new αMSH analogue, possesses anti-inflammatory activities. Montero-Melendez T, Patel HB, Seed M, Jonassen T, Perretti M. Proc. Br. Pharmacological Soc. pA2online. 2009; 7(4): 011P.
  • The poly-anionic sugar sucrose octa-sulphate is an oral Anti-rheumatic and anti-erosive metabolite of sucralfate Jones R., Mancini J., Lees M., Roitt I., Burnet M., Seed M. Inflammation Research (2008) 57(s2): s105-6
  • Preconditioning lymphocytes with p38 MAPk inhibitors, and not accessory cells, prevents con-a-induced lymphocyte responses. V Moradi, E Johnson, L Dugo, V Holan, M Burnet, S Laufer, MSeed* Inflammation Research (2008) 57(S2) S104
  • Intracellular signalling pathways controlling inflammation: potential for pharmacological control of chronic inflammatory disease.  (Oral Plenary) M. P. Seed  Inflammopharmacology 2009, 16:307
  • The impact of the Annexin A1 pathway on glucocorticoid control of inflammatory arthritis. HB Patel, K Kornerup, ALF Sampaio, AP Girol, F D'Acquisto, MP Seed, M Gray, C Pitzalis, SM Oliani and M Perretti. Arthritis Rheumatism 2012 Ann Rheum Dis 71:1872-80.
  • Anti-rheumatic activity and cytokine synthesis inhibition by the oliosulphated disaccharide sucrose octasulphate. M. Lees, L. Dugo, Z. Ganiyu-dada, J. Mancini, M. Burnet, M. Seed. Inflammopharmacology 2009, 16:319-320.
  • p38 MAP kinase triggers dendritic or accessory cells in the allogeneic mixed lymphocyte and Con-A – induced lymphocyte responses. V. Moradi, E. Johnson, L. Dugo, V. Holan, M. Burnet, S. Laufer, M. Seed.  Inflammopharmacology 2009, 16:323-324.
  • A simple score for assessing bone erosion in rodent arthritic paws visualised by micro focal computer tomography Xray. J. Mancini, M. R. Jones, C. Alam, M Burnet, M. P. Seed. Inflammopharmacology 20.

Books

  • Angiogenesis in Inflammation. Walsh D, Seed M. Progress in Inflammation Research. Birkhauser, Basel. 2008.
  • Cyclo-oxygenases:  Methods and Protocols. Ayoub S, Flower RJ, Seed M 2010. Humana Press 2010.

Book chapters

  • Synovial Pathobiology of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Pitzalis C, Humby F, Seed MP. In: Oxford Textbook of Rheumatology 2014.
  • Animal Models of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Patel HB, Dawson B, Humby F, Blades M, Pitzalis C, Burnet M, Seed M. Fundamentals of Inflammation. Eds Gilroy D & Serhan C. 2010. Cambridge University Press. pp: 384-441.
  • Cyclo-oxygenase enzymes and their products in the carrageenan-induced pleurisy in rats. Moore AR, Ayoub SS, Seed MP. Methods Mol Biol. 2010; 644:201-5.
  • The assessment of inflammation, cartilage matrix and bone loss in experimental mono-articular arthritis in the rat. Seed MP, (2003) Methods Mol Biol 225: 161-174.
  • Molecular engineering of short half-life small peptides (VIP, ?-MSH and ?3MSH) fused to latency-associated peptide results in improved anti-inflammatory therapeutics. Vessillier S, Adams G, Montero-Melendez T, Jones R, Seed M, Perretti M, Chernajovsky Y. Ann Rheum Dis 2012 71:143-9.
  • The Melanocortin Agonist AP214 Exerts Anti-Inflammatory and Pro-resolving Properties. Montero-Melendez T, Patel HB, Seed M, Nielsen S, Jonassen TE, Perretti M. Am J Pathol 2011 179(1):259-269.
  • Paracetamol-induced hypothermia is independent of cannabinoids and transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 and is not mediated by AM404. Ayoub SS, Pryce G, Seed MP, Bolton C, Flower RJ, Baker D. Drug Metab Dispos 2011 39: 1689-95.
  • Inhibition of the diclofenac-induced cyclooxygenase-2 activity by paracetamol in cultured macrophages is not related to the intracellular lipid hydroperoxide tone. Ayoub S, Joshi A, Chol M, Seed MP.  Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology 2011, 25:186-190.
  • Human single chain fragment variable (scFv) that specifically targets arthritic cartilage. Hughes C, Faurholm B, Dell'accio F, Manzo A, Seed M, Eltawil N, Marrelli A, Gould D, Subang C, Al-Kashi A, De Bari C, Winyard P, Chernajovsky Y, Nissim A. Arthritis Rheum. 2010 62(4): 1007-1016.

TEACHING

  • PhD Supervision
  • Successful PhD supervisory and examination experience.

Scholarly activities

Inflammatory, immune and rheumatic disease research. Scientific Advisory Boards. R&D project design and execution. Venture capital assessment. IP generation. Modelling inflammatory and rheumatic disease. Novel drugs and targets. Animal welfare in research.  Collaborative research. Study design.

BSc (Hons) Pharmacology

Our pharmacology course is geared towards thinking about your future with its work placements and other opportunities for work experience.

Study BSc Pharmacology

BSc (Hons) Medical Physiology

Study the complex anatomy and function of the human body in health and disease. Gain training and experience to prepare you for your career.

Study BSc Medical Physiology

MODULES

Module Leader

  • Systems Pharmacology (BS3041)
  • Behavioural and Chemical Pharmacology (BS3042)
  • Systems Pharmacology (BSM018)
  • Behavioural and Chemical Pharmacology (BSM020)

Teach on:

  • Cellular Pathology, Haematology and Transfusion Science (BS3016)
  • Clinical Physiology & Employability (BS3035)
  • Applied Toxicology (BS3034)
  • Applied Medical Physiology (BS3049)
  • Individual Research Project & Employability (BS3063/4/5)
  • Introductory Pharmacology (BS2041)
  • Neuropharmacology (BS2042)
  • Physiological regulation (BS2050)
  • Introductory Pharmacology (BSM2041)
  • Neuropharmacology (BSM2042)
  • Research Skills (BSM002)
  • Applied Toxicology (BSM012)
  • Human Health and Disease (BS1010)
  • Skills (Extended degree) (BS0001)
  • Principles of Assays (Barts and the London, BMedSci)
  • Anti-rheumatic drugs (Barts and the London, BMedSci)
  • Drug discovery (Barts and the London, BMedSci)
  • Use of animals in research (Barts and the London, BMedSci)

Publications

The last four years of publications can be viewed below. 

Full publications list

Visit the research repository to view a full list of publications

Research repository