Overview
Background
Dr. Robert James Adam MA(Cantab) MBBS (London) PhD(UCL) FRACP FRCP (London)
Behavioural neurologist with interests in cognition and movement disorders. Clinical lead for deep brain stimulation at The Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Senior Lecturer and Clinical Trials Specialist at UQCCR.
Movement disorders and advanced Parkinson's clinics in addition to Statewide Huntington's Disease, Friedreich's Ataxia and Metro North Deep Brain Stimulation services https://metronorth.health.qld.gov.au/news/deep-brain-stimulation-parkinsons. Young onset dementia clinic at STARS https://metronorth.health.qld.gov.au/stars/.
Principal investigator in 2 Phase 1b/2a clinical trials of novel antisense oligonucleotides for Huntington's Disease, PRECISION-HD1 & 2 and their open label extensions. I am part of a nationwide and statewide effort to investigate drug repurposing - particularly in Parkinson's Disease. I collaborate widely in investigator led research with both clinical scientists, basic scientists and allied health practioners both at UQ and beyond. Former research officer in PISA (Prospective Imaging Study of Aging) https://www.qimrberghofer.edu.au/pisa/ and the clinical lead for ADNet in QLD. ADNet is an NHMRC funded project to screen and register patients with cognitive impairment https://www.australiandementianetwork.org.au/.
I was trained in the US (NYU Medical Centre), UK (National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery in Queen Square, UCLH, Cambridge University Hospitals) and Australia (Royal North Shore and Westmead Hospitals, Sydney). My PhD (UCL 2014) Thesis, "Dopamine and Oculomotor Decisions In Health & Disease", investigated the use of eye movement recordings during behavioral tasks to monitor decision making in patients with focal lesions, Parkinson's disease, impulse control disorders and healthy volunteers both under the influence and without the effects of dopaminergic modulators. I teach both medical undergraduates and graduates, supervise higher degree candidates and have written chapters in medical textbooks.
Availability
- Dr Rob Adam is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Neuroscience, University of Cambridge
- Bachelor (Honours) of Medicine, University College London
- Doctor of Philosophy of Neuroscience, University College London
- Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
- Fellow, Royal College of Physicians of London, Royal College of Physicians of London
Research interests
-
Cognitive Neurology
-
Movement Disorders
-
Parkinson's Disease
-
Tremor
-
Dementia
-
Alzheimer's Disease
-
Huntington's Disease
Research impacts
Research on biomarkers (PISA study & ADNet) may allow the early identification of "at risk" patients prior to the onset of neurodegenerative disease, thus provding a valuable "window" for intervention.
At the other end of the research spectrum, drug repurposing may discover new benefits of treatments (traditionally used in other disease entitities) for conditions that currently lack disease modifying therapies.
By engaging with community groups (e.g. HD QLD) and industry, we enable our patients to become involved in studies ranging from basic science and fundamental studies of brain function to pharmaceurtical trials of novel investigational agents.
Works
Search Professor Rob Adam’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Peripheral and central elevation of IL-8 in patients with Huntington’s disease
Fung, Jenny N., Lee, John D., Adam, Robert, O’Sullivan, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2025). Peripheral and central elevation of IL-8 in patients with Huntington’s disease. Molecular Immunology, 179, 84-93. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2025.02.003
2025
Other Outputs
Dopamine alters motor learning performance in the presence and absence of feedback
Leow, Li-Ann, Tan, Ashley Huey-Ryu, Carroll, Timothy J., Adam, Rob, Dux, Paul E. and Filmer, Hannah L. (2025). Dopamine alters motor learning performance in the presence and absence of feedback. doi: 10.1101/2024.11.23.625034
2025
Journal Article
Clinical utility of 18F-fluorodopa positron emission tomography in the movement disorder clinic: an Australian experience
Yeow, Dennis, Fielder, Matthew, Hynard, Shane, Adam, Robert, Katz, Matthew, Lehn, Alexander, Thomas, Paul and O'Sullivan, John D. (2025). Clinical utility of 18F-fluorodopa positron emission tomography in the movement disorder clinic: an Australian experience. Internal Medicine Journal, 55 (2), 207-215. doi: 10.1111/imj.16615
2025
Journal Article
Factors associated with true-positive and false-positive diagnoses of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia in 100 consecutive referrals from specialist physicians
Flavell, Joshua, Ahern, Emily G. M., Logan, Benignus, Shaw, Thomas B., Adam, Robert J., McElligott, Caitlin A. T. and Nestor, Peter J. (2025). Factors associated with true-positive and false-positive diagnoses of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia in 100 consecutive referrals from specialist physicians. European Journal of Neurology, 32 (1) e70036, e70036-1. doi: 10.1111/ene.70036
2024
Journal Article
The interplay of age, gender and amyloid on brain and cognition in mid-life and older adults
Borne, Léonie, Thienel, Renate, Lupton, Michelle K., Guo, Christine, Mosley, Philip, Behler, Anna, Giorgio, Joseph, Adam, Robert, Ceslis, Amelia, Bourgeat, Pierrick, Fazlollahi, Amir, Maruff, Paul, Rowe, Christopher C., Masters, Colin L., Fripp, Jurgen, Robinson, Gail A. and Breakspear, Michael (2024). The interplay of age, gender and amyloid on brain and cognition in mid-life and older adults. Scientific Reports, 14 (1) 27207, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-78308-3
2024
Journal Article
The clinical relevance of MOG antibody testing in cerebrospinal fluid
Reynolds, Molly, Tan, Irene, Nguyen, Kristy, Merheb, Vera, Lee, Fiona X. Z., Trewin, Benjamin P, Lerch, Magdalena, Shah, Snehal, Wolfe, Nigel, Buzzard, Katherine, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Fabis-Pedrini, Marzena, Fok, Anthony, John, Nevin, Kneebone, Chris, Yiannikas, Con, Brown, David A., Kermode, Allan G., Reddel, Stephen, Dale, Russell C., Brilot, Fabienne, Ramanathan, Sudarshini, Adam, Robert, Andersen, Jane, Andrews, Ian, Antony, Jayne, Aouad, Patrick, Badve, Monica, Barnett, Michael H. ... on behalf of the Australasian MOGAD Study Group (2024). The clinical relevance of MOG antibody testing in cerebrospinal fluid. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 11 (9), 1-6. doi: 10.1002/acn3.52163
2024
Journal Article
Long-term efficacy and safety of Rituximab in the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Hayes, Michael Thomas Gerard, Adam, Robert J., McCombe, Pamela Ann, Walsh, Michael and Blum, Stefan (2024). Long-term efficacy and safety of Rituximab in the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 10 (2) 20552173241257876, 20552173241257876. doi: 10.1177/20552173241257876
2024
Journal Article
Generation of novel ideas: creativity in Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, and healthy older adults
Marsh, Georgia, Aung, Ohnmar, Ceslis, Amelia, Adam, Robert, Mosley, Philip, Fripp, Jurgen and Robinson, Gail A. (2024). Generation of novel ideas: creativity in Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, and healthy older adults. Creativity Research Journal, 1-16. doi: 10.1080/10400419.2024.2304498
2023
Journal Article
Levetiracetam for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: a double-blind controlled proof-of-concept trial protocol
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka, Pourzinal, Dana, Byrne, Gerard J., Yang, Jihyun, McMahon, Katie L., Pontone, Gregory M., O'Sullivan, John D., Adam, Robert, Littleford, Roberta, Chatfield, Mark, Lehn, Alexander, Mari, Zoltan and Bakker, Arnold (2023). Levetiracetam for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: a double-blind controlled proof-of-concept trial protocol. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 9 (1) 189, 189. doi: 10.1186/s40814-023-01406-y
2023
Journal Article
The Role of Apathy in Spontaneous Verbal and Nonverbal Behaviors: A Transdiagnostic Pilot Study in Neurodegeneration
Horne, Kristina S., Ceslis, Amelia, Mosley, Philip, Adam, Robert and Robinson, Gail A. (2023). The Role of Apathy in Spontaneous Verbal and Nonverbal Behaviors: A Transdiagnostic Pilot Study in Neurodegeneration. Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, 36 (3), 178-193. doi: 10.1097/wnn.0000000000000345
2023
Journal Article
Advanced Parkinson’s disease: a clinical challenge
Adam, Robert J. (2023). Advanced Parkinson’s disease: a clinical challenge. Medicine Today, 24 (1-2), 12-21.
2022
Conference Publication
Update on TRIP: Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease proof of concept trial
Pourzinal, D., Bakker, A., Byrne, G.J., McMahon, K., O’Sullivan, J.D., Adam, R., Lehn, A., Copland, D., Yang, J.H., Au, T., Littleford, R., Chatfield, M., Pontone, G., Mari, Z. and Dissanayaka, N. (2022). Update on TRIP: Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease proof of concept trial. UQ Centre for Clinical Research HDR Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 24 November 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
LC-MS based urine metabolomic profiling indicate altered gut microbiome and host lipid metabolites in Parkinson's disease
Jewell, Shannon, Roper, Kerry, Woodhouse, Helen, Adam, Robert, O'Sullivan, John and Gordon, Richard (2022). LC-MS based urine metabolomic profiling indicate altered gut microbiome and host lipid metabolites in Parkinson's disease. Experimental Biology 2022 Meeting, Philadelphia, PA United States, 2-5 April 2022. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley and Sons. doi: 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.S1.R2928
2022
Conference Publication
A Novel Role for Glucocerebrosidase 1 (GBA1) in Parkinson's Disease
Jayabalan, Nanthini, Roper, Katherine Kerry, Woodhouse, Helen M., Adam, Robert J., O'Sullivan, John D. and Gordon, Richard (2022). A Novel Role for Glucocerebrosidase 1 (GBA1) in Parkinson's Disease. Experimental Biology Meeting 2022, Philadelphia, PA United States, 2-5 April 2022. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley and Sons. doi: 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.S1.R5391
2022
Journal Article
A snapshot of brain and cognition in healthy mid-life and older adults
Borne, Léonie, Lupton, Michelle K., Guo, Christine, Mosley, Philip, Adam, Robert, Ceslis, Amelia, Bourgeat, Pierrick, Fazlollahi, Amir , Maruff, Paul, Rowe, Christopher C., Masters, Colin L., Fripp, Jurgen , Robinson, Gail A. and Breakspear, Michael (2022). A snapshot of brain and cognition in healthy mid-life and older adults. bioRxiv. doi: 10.1101/2022.01.20.476706
2022
Conference Publication
Update on TRIP: Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease proof of concept trial
Pourzinal, D., Bakker, A., Byrne, G.J., McMahon, K., O’Sullivan, J.D., Adam, R., Lehn, A., Copland, D., Yang, J.H., Au, T., Littleford, R., Chatfield, M., Pontone, G., Mari, Z. and Dissanayaka, N. (2022). Update on TRIP: Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease proof of concept trial. UQ Neurosciences Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26-27 September 2022.
2021
Journal Article
Biallelic AOPEP loss-of-function variants cause progressive dystonia with prominent limb involvement
Zech, Michael, Kumar, Kishore R., Reining, Sophie, Reunert, Janine, Tchan, Michel, Riley, Lisa G., Drew, Alexander P., Adam, Robert J., Berutti, Riccardo, Biskup, Saskia, Derive, Nicolas, Bakhtiari, Somayeh, Sheng, Chih Jin, Kruer, Michael C., Bardakjian, Tanya, Gonzalez-Alegre, Pedro, Sarmiento, Ignacio J. Keller, Mencacci, Niccolo E., Lubbe, Steven J., Kurian, Manju A., Clot, Fabienne, Méneret, Aurélie, de Sainte Agathe, Jean-Madeleine, Fung, Victor S.C., Vidailhet, Marie, Baumann, Matthias, Marquardt, Thorsten, Winkelmann, Juliane and Boesch, Sylvia (2021). Biallelic AOPEP loss-of-function variants cause progressive dystonia with prominent limb involvement. Movement Disorders, 37 (1), 137-147. doi: 10.1002/mds.28804
2021
Conference Publication
Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): Proof-of-concept protocol
Pourzinal, D., Bakker, A., Byrne, G.J., McMahon, K., O’Sullivan, J., Adam, R., Copland, D., Yang, J.H.J., Au, T., Littleford, R., Chatfield, M., Pontone, G., Mari, Z. and Dissanayaka, N. (2021). Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): Proof-of-concept protocol. Australia Dementia Forum 2021, Online, 31 May - 1 June 2021.
2021
Journal Article
An Australian state-based cohort study of autoimmune encephalitis cases detailing clinical presentation, investigation results, and response to therapy
Swayne, Andrew, Warren, Nicola, Prain, Kerri, Gillis, David, O'Gorman, Cullen, Tsang, Benjamin K-T., Muller, Claire, Broadley, Simon, Adam, Robert J., McCombe, Pamela, Wong, Richard C. and Blum, Stefan (2021). An Australian state-based cohort study of autoimmune encephalitis cases detailing clinical presentation, investigation results, and response to therapy. Frontiers in Neurology, 12 607773, 607773. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.607773
2020
Conference Publication
Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): proof-of-concept protocol
Pourzinal, D., Bakker, A., Byrne, G. J., McMahon, K., O'Sullivan, J., Adam, R., Copland, D., Yang, J. H. J., Au, T., Littleford, R., Chatfield, M., Pontone, G., Mari, G. and Dissanayaka, N. (2020). Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): proof-of-concept protocol. Herston Health Precinct Symposium 2020, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 7-11 December 2020.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Rob Adam is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Rob Adam directly for media enquiries about:
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Behavioural Neurology
- Clinical Trials
- Cognition
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Dementia
- Dystonia
- Friedreich's Ataxia
- Huntington's Disease
- Medical Education
- Neurology
- Parkinson's disease
- Tourette's Syndrome
- Tremor
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: