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Stephen Getting

Course Leader Drug Discovery and Development

T: 020 7911 5000 ext 2802
F: 020 7911 5087
E: S.Getting@westminster.ac.uk

Background

  • I lecture to undergraduate and postgraduate students in pharmacology, physiology and drug discovery and development.
  • I am currently the course leader for the MSc in Drug Discovery and Development in addition to this I am also the module leader for organ systems pharmacology and immuno-pharmacology.
  • I am a member of the School Research Board and also coordinate the Inflammation and infection research group within the school.
  • Graduated from the School of Pharmacy, London in 1995 with an honours degree in Toxicology and Pharmacology.
  • Graduated with a PhD in pharmacology in 1999 at the William Harvey Research Institute, Bart’s and the Royal London Medical Schools, London.

 

Research Interests

  • I am a pharmacologist interested in unravelling the biological effects of endogenous modulators of the host inflammatory response. My particular interest involves the melanocortin peptides.
  • The aim of this research is to understand their mechanism of action of these peptides and identification the target receptors for pharmacological manipulation and subsequent disease treatment.
  • Understanding how these naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agents exhibit a dual mechanism of action i.e. an early phase inhibition of cytokine release and a late induction of pro-resolving pathways is an exciting development.
  • This research will hopefully lead to development of novel therapeutics to treat some of the biggest debilitating diseases that we face including arthritis, cardiovascular and respiratory disease.

 

Current Research / Ongoing Projects

  • Evaluating the role of melanocortins in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Identifying whether they can be utilised to promote the resolution of inflammation via the induction of pro-resolving anti-inflammatory mediators.
  • Investigation of the role of melanocortins in patients suffering with rheumatoid arthritis and steroid insensitive asthmatics.
  • Evaluating the anti-inflammatory effects of melanocortins in osteoarthritic cell-lines.
  • Evaluating the inflammatory profile following high-impact sport.

Selected Publications

G. Leoni, H.B. Patel, A.L.F. Sampaio, F.N.E. Gavins, J.F. Murray, P. Grieco, S.J. Getting and M. Perretti. (2008). Inflamed phenotype of the mesenteric microcirculation of melanocortin type 3 receptor null mice after ischaemia-reperfusion. Faseb J. 22(12) 4228-4238, 2008.

Getting S.J., Riffo-Vasquez Y., Pitchford S., Kaneva M., Grieco P., Page C.P., Perretti M. and Spina D. A role for MC3R in modulating lung inflammation. Pulm Pharmacol Ther 21(6) 866-873, 2008.

Stephen J. Getting: Melanocortins: Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology July 2008.pp752-757. Springer Science.

Ito K., Getting S.J. and Charron, C.E. Mode of glucocorticoid actions in airway disease. ScientificWorldJournal 6, 175008-1769, 2006.

Gavins F.N., Leoni G. and Getting, S.J. Annexin 1 and melanocortin peptide therapy for protection against ischaemic-reperfusion damage in the heart. ScientificWorldJournal 6, 1008-1023, 2006.

Getting S.J. Targeting melanocortin receptors for the treatment of disease pathologies. PHARMACOL. THER. 111 (1), 1-15, 2006.  

Getting S.J., Di Filippo C., D’Amico M. and Perretti M. The melanocortin peptide HP228 displays protective effects in acute models of inflammation and organ damage. EUR. J. PHARMACOL. 532(1-2), 138-144, 2006.

Getting S.J., Lam C.W., Leoni G., Gavins F.N., Grieco P. and Perretti M. [D-TRP8]-gamma-melanocyte stimulating hormone exhibits anti-inflammatory efficacy in mice bearing a non-functional MC1R (recessive yellow e/e mouse). MOL. PHARMACOL. 70(6), 1850-1855, 2006.

Getting S.J., Lam C.W., Chen A.S., Grieco P. and Perretti M. Melanocortin 3 receptors control crystal-induced inflammation. FASEB J. 20(13), 2234-2241, 2006.

Lam C.W., Getting S.J. and Perretti M. In vitro and in vivo induction of heme oxygenase 1 in mouse macrophages following melanocortin receptor activation. J. IMMUNOL 174(4), 2297-2304. 2005.

Conference presentations or/and Other publications

Serono Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Geneva, Switzerland, March 2005.

Kings College London, February 2005.

Pfizer Global Research, Sandwich, Kent, June 2004

NHLI, Imperial College, London, May 2004

Novartis, Horsham, Sussex, September 2003

2nd University of Naples, March 2003.

British Inflammation Research Association Meeting, September 2002.

Solarno University, Italy, May 2002.

Inflammation 2001, Edinburgh, September 2001.

Oxford University, MRC Unit - Department of Biochemistry, February 2001.

Inflammation Research Meeting, 10th International Congress, West Virginia, USA, September 2000.

Inflammation Research Meeting 9th International Congress, Hershey, PA, USA, November 1998.

Awards and Grants

Derek Willoughby Young Investigator Award, Inflammation 2001

Gordon Van Arman Award Scholar, Inflammation Research Association, 1998.

Murray J., Smith C. & Getting SJ.” Melanocortin 3 receptors in the testes”. Society for Endocrinology  £11,895. (2008).

Perretti M, Gray M, Getting SJ & Pitzalis C: “Role of melanocortins in modulating arthritis (RA)”. ARC £203,719. 3-year Project Grant. 11/07-10/10.

Perretti M & Getting SJ: “Melanocortin receptor deficiency and the control of leukocyte/endothelium interactions”. BHF FS/05/078/19406.  £ 80,800.  PhD studentship.  10/05 to 9/08.

Perretti M & Getting SJ: “MC3R gene deficiency and cell activation in inflammation”. ARC 17299; £81,215, 18 month project grant 4/06 to 10/07.

Getting SJ & Perretti M: “Activation of melanocortin type 3 receptor as a novel strategy to control experimental chromic inflammation.” ARC £102,609. 2-year Project Grant . 9/02 to 9/04.

Perretti M & Getting SJ: “Melanocortin receptor type 3 activation and the control of macrophage signalling”.  ARC £57,655. PhD studentship.  10/01 to 9/04.

Research Groups / Key Appointments