
Overview
Background
Neurologist
Dr McCombe graduated in Medicine from UQ and completed a Science degree for medical students. She then trained as a neurologist in Sydney, at Prince Henry and Prince of Wales Hospitals. She obtained a PhD from the University of Sydney. She obtained experience in Neurophysiology in Cleveland and then returned to UQ as a post-doctoral fellow. She worked for some years as a research fellow in Neuroimmunology and was an NHMRc SRF. Later she resumed clinical practice as a neurologist, and contimued her research as an NHMRC Practitioner Fellow. She is currentlyProfessor and Head of the Royal Brisbane Clinical school in the School of Medicine and Co-head of the Brain and Mental Health Theme at the UQ Centre for Clinical Research.
Availability
- Professor Pamela McCombe is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Sydney
- Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Research interests
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Biomarkers and heterogeneity in ALS
One of the challenges of ALS is understanding disease heterogeneity. Our work studies the variability of patients by detailed clinical, laboratory and genetic studies, and by identifying biomarkers that are associated with disease. We use a range of techniques including neurophysiology, MRI, metabolic studies, genetic studies, immune markers and biochemical studies including proteomics. We are using this information to analyse whether patients can be assigned into subgroups and to correlated with survival.
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Inflammatory neuropathy studies
This is an ongoing study of the immunological basis and genetic basis of acute and chronic inflammatory neuropathy
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Pregnancy and MS
This study is exploring the short and long term effects of pregnancy in multiple sclerosis. This includes the clinical effects of pregnancy and the effects on gene expression and methylation
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Immunology of stroke
This study involves documenting the immune responses after human stroke and determining the significance of these responses.
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Neuromuscular disease
This work is based at the Neuromuscular clinic at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, and involves correlation of genotype and phenotype of inherited neuromuscular disease
Works
Search Professor Pamela McCombe’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Persistent progression independent of relapse activity in multiple sclerosis
Zhu, Chao, Zhou, Zhen, Kalincik, Tomas, Roos, Izanne, Buzzard, Katherine, Skibina, Olga, Alroughani, Raed, Kuhle, Jens, Girard, Marc, Grammond, Pierre, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Gerlach, Oliver, John, Nevin, Mccombe, Pamela, Macdonell, Richard, Van Pesch, Vincent, Laureys, Guy, Prevost, Julie, Horakova, Dana, Kubala Havrdova, Eva, Castillo-Triviño, Tamara, Ramo-Tello, Cristina, Blanco, Yolanda, Meca-Lallana, Jose E, Lugaresi, Alessandra, Tomassini, Valentina, Cartechini, Elisabetta, Amato, Maria Pia, Spitaleri, Daniele ... Butzkueven, Helmut (2025). Persistent progression independent of relapse activity in multiple sclerosis. Brain Communications, 7 (5) fcaf306. doi: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaf306
2025
Journal Article
Standardized Definition of Progression Independent of Relapse Activity (PIRA) in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Müller, Jannis, Sharmin, Sifat, Lorscheider, Johannes, Ozakbas, Serkan, Karabudak, Rana, Horakova, Dana, Weinstock-Guttman, Bianca, Shaygannejad, Vahid, Etemadifar, Masoud, Alroughani, Raed, Patti, Francesco, Eichau, Sara, Prat, Alexandre, Lugaresi, Alessandra, Tomassini, Valentina, Kermode, Allan G., Amato, Maria Pia, Turkoglu, Recai, Altintas, Ayse, Buzzard, Katherine, Soysal, Aysun, Van Der Walt, Anneke, Butzkueven, Helmut, Blanco, Yolanda, Gerlach, Oliver, Khoury, Samia J., Barnett, Michael, John, Nevin, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette ... Granziera, Cristina (2025). Standardized Definition of Progression Independent of Relapse Activity (PIRA) in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. JAMA Neurology, 82 (6), 614-625. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.0495
2025
Journal Article
MGBase: A Global, Observational Registry for Collaborative Research in Myasthenia Gravis
Buzzard, Katherine A., Van der Walt, Anneke, Butzkueven, Helmut, Zhang, Wen Wen, Barnett-Tapia, Carolina, Cutter, Gary, Heckmann, Jeannine M., Farr, Pamela, Tran, Carolyn, Sartori, Charlotte, Stupar, Dusko, More, Rein, Sim, Linda, Le, Alison, Tang, Qingxiao, Reddel, Stephen W., Blum, Stefan, Lovas, Gabvor, McCombe, Pamela, Chroni, Elisabeth, Cruse, Belinda, Alroughani, Raed, Tzartos, John, Gomex-Figueroa, Enrique, Boz, Cavit, Karelis, Guntis, Kermode, Allan and Crump, Nicholas (2025). MGBase: A Global, Observational Registry for Collaborative Research in Myasthenia Gravis. Muscle and Nerve, 72 (3) mus.28450, 424-432. doi: 10.1002/mus.28450
2024
Journal Article
Prevalence of progression independent of relapse activity and relapse-associated worsening in patients with AQP4-IgG–positive NMOSD
Siriratnam, Pakeeran, Huda, Saif, Van Der Walt, Anneke, Sanfilippo, Paul G., Sharmin, Sifat, Foong, Yi Chao, Yeh, Wei Z., Zhu, Chao, Khoury, Samia J., Csepany, Tunde, Willekens, Barbara, Etemadifar, Masoud, Ozakbas, Serkan, Nytrova, Petra, Altintas, Ayse, Al-Asmi, Abdullah, Ramo-Tello, Cristina M., Laureys, Guy, Patti, Francesco, Horakova, Dana, Foschi, Matteo, Boz, Cavit, McCombe, Pamela A., Turkoglu, Recai, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Roos, Izanne, Kalincik, Tomas, Jokubaitis, Vilija G., Butzkueven, Helmut ... for MSBase (2024). Prevalence of progression independent of relapse activity and relapse-associated worsening in patients with AQP4-IgG–positive NMOSD. Neurology, 103 (12) e209940, 1-8. doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000209940
2024
Conference Publication
The risk of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis is geographically determined but modifiable
Sharmin, Sifat, Roos, Izanne, Simpson-Yap, Steve, Malpas, Charles, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Buzzard, Katherine, Skibina, Olga, van der Walt, Anneke, Butzkueven, Helmut, Kermode, Allan, Butler, Ernest, Barnett, Michael, Hodgkinson, Suzanne, McCombe, Pamela, Taylor, Bruce, Slee, Mark, Macdonell, Richard, Garber, Justin, Shaw, Cameron, Shuey, Neil, Massey, Jennifer, Hardy, Todd, Parratt, John and Kalincik, Tomas (2024). The risk of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis is geographically determined but modifiable. Multiple Sclerosis Australia: Progress in MS Research Conference (MS), Perth, WA, Australia, 29 November - 1 December 2023. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2024
Journal Article
Effectiveness of disease-modifying treatment on spinal cord lesion formation in relapse-onset multiple sclerosis: an MSBase registry study
Kreiter, Daniel, Kalincik, Tomas, Hupperts, Raymond, Patti, Francesco, Spitaleri, Daniele, Foschi, Matteo, Surcinelli, Andrea, Maimone, Davide, Yamout, Bassem, Khoury, Samia J., Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Ozakbas, Serkan, Gerlach, Oliver, Turkoglu, R., Soysal, A., Boz, C., Al-Asmi, A., Alkhaboori, J., Amato, M. P., Onofrj, M., Lugaresi, A., Besora, S., Sanchez-Menoyo, J. L., Lapointe, E., Grand’Maison, F., Grammond, P., Butzkueven, H., Van der Walt, A., Taylor, B. V. ... Barnett, M. H. (2024). Effectiveness of disease-modifying treatment on spinal cord lesion formation in relapse-onset multiple sclerosis: an MSBase registry study. CNS Drugs, 38 (11), 921-930. doi: 10.1007/s40263-024-01115-x
2024
Conference Publication
DNA methylation discriminates between responder and non-responder status in a long-term study of cladribine tablet use in multiple sclerosis
Maltby, Vicki E., Xavier, Alexandre, Monif, Mastura, Min, Myintzu, Fabis-Pedrini, Marzena J., Buzzard, Katherine, Kalincik, Tomas, Kermode, Allan G., Taylor, Bruce, Hodgkinson, Suzanne, McCombe, Pamela, Osborne, Meaghan, Butzkueven, Helmut, Barnett, Michael, Lea, Rodney A. and Lechner-Scott, Jeannette (2024). DNA methylation discriminates between responder and non-responder status in a long-term study of cladribine tablet use in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Australia: Progress in MS Research Conference (MS), Perth, WA, Australia, 29 November - 1 December 2023. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2024
Journal Article
Disease activity in pregnant and postpartum women with multiple sclerosis receiving ocrelizumab or other disease-modifying therapies
Yeh, Wei Z., Van Der Walt, Anneke, Skibina, Olga G., Kalincik, Tomas, Alroughani, Raed, Kermode, Allan G., Fabis-Pedrini, Marzena J., Carroll, William M., Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Boz, Cavit, Ozakbas, Serkan, Buzzard, Katherine, Habek, Mario, John, Nevin A., Prat, Alexandre, Girard, Marc, Duquette, Pierre, Baghbanian, Seyed Mohammad, Hodgkinson, Suzanne, Van Pesch, Vincent, Laureys, Guy, Willekens, Barbara, Prevost, Julie, Foschi, Matteo, De Gans, Koen, Horakova, Dana, Havrdova, Eva Kubala, Karabudak, Rana, Patti, Francesco ... for the MSBase Study Group (2024). Disease activity in pregnant and postpartum women with multiple sclerosis receiving ocrelizumab or other disease-modifying therapies. Neurology Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation, 11 (6) e200328, 1-16. doi: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000200328
2024
Journal Article
Assessing the effect of Riluzole on motor unit discharge properties
Shandiz, Ehsan, Fernandes, Gabriel Lima, Henkin, Joao Saldanha, McCombe, Pamela Ann, Trajano, Gabriel Siqueira and Henderson, Robert David (2024). Assessing the effect of Riluzole on motor unit discharge properties. Brain Sciences, 14 (11) 1053, 1053. doi: 10.3390/brainsci14111053
2024
Journal Article
Diagnosing late-onset Tay-Sachs through next generation sequencing and functional enzyme testing: from genes to enzymes
Tupil, Ajay R., Rivlin, Warwick, Mccombe, Pamela A., Henderson, Robert D., Rodgers, Jonathan and Vadlamudi, Lata (2024). Diagnosing late-onset Tay-Sachs through next generation sequencing and functional enzyme testing: from genes to enzymes. Neurology Genetics, 10 (6) e200205, e200205. doi: 10.1212/nxg.0000000000200205
2024
Conference Publication
Closing the gap in diagnosis of neuropathies and late-onset neurological disorders - a trans-Australia collaboration
Laing, N., Kennerson, M., Lamont, P., Vucic, S., Davis, M., Bryson-Richardson, R., Ravenscroft, G., Perez-Siles, G., Ghaoui, R., Narayanan, R., McCombe, P., Deveson, I., Bryen, S., Grosz, B., Johari, M., Rick, A., Folland, C., Scriba, C., Parmar, J. and Ellis, M. (2024). Closing the gap in diagnosis of neuropathies and late-onset neurological disorders - a trans-Australia collaboration. 29th International Congress of the World-Muscle-Society (WMS), Prague, Czech Republic, 8-12 October 2024. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2024.07.328
2024
Journal Article
Predictors of relapse risk and treatment response in AQP4-IgG positive and seronegative NMOSD: A multicentre study
Siriratnam, Pakeeran, Sanfilippo, Paul, van der Walt, Anneke, Sharmin, Sifat, Foong, Yi Chao, Yeh, Wei Zhen, Zhu, Chao, Khoury, Samia Joseph, Csepany, Tunde, Willekens, Barbara, Etemadifar, Masoud, Ozakbas,, Serkan, Nytrova, Petra, Altintas, Ayse, Al-Asmi, Abdullah, Yamout, Bassem, Laureys, Guy, Patti, Francesco, Simo, Magdolna, Surcinelli, Andrea, Foschi, Matteo, McCombe, Pamela A, Alroughani, Raed, Sánchez-Menoyo, José Luis, Turkoglu, Recai, Soysal, Aysun, Lechner Scott, Jeanette, Kalincik, Tomas, Butzkueven, Helmut ... Monif, Mastura (2024). Predictors of relapse risk and treatment response in AQP4-IgG positive and seronegative NMOSD: A multicentre study. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 96 (4) jnnp-2024-334090, 1-9. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2024-334090
2024
Conference Publication
Real-world experience with Cladribine (Mavenclad) in the MSBase registry
Butzkueven, Helmut, Spelman, Tim, Van der Walt, Anneke, Hodgkinson, Suzanne, Ozakbas, Serkan, Alroughani, Raed, Kalincik, Tomas, Eichau, Sara, Boz, Cavit, Buzzard, Katherine, Habek, Mario, John, Nevin, Kermode, Allan G., Foschi, Matteo, McCombe, Pamela, Gerlach, Oliver, Prevost, Julie, Meca-Lallana, Jose E., Lapointe, Emmanuelle and Jarvinen, Elina (2024). Real-world experience with Cladribine (Mavenclad) in the MSBase registry. 40th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Copenhagen, Denmark, 18-20 September 2024. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2024
Conference Publication
Real-world Australian experience with Ofatumumab in the MSBase Registry
Barnett, Michael, van der Walt, Anneke, Butzkueven, Helmut, Kalincik, Tomas, Spelman, Tim, Kermode, Allan, Fabis-Pedrini, Marzena, Carroll, William M., Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, John, Nevin, Hodgkinson, Suzanne, McCombe, Pamela, Macdonell, Richard, Slee, Mark, Migocki, Margaret, Martel, Kate and Schmitt, Birte (2024). Real-world Australian experience with Ofatumumab in the MSBase Registry. 40th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Copenhagen, Denmark, 18-20 September 2024. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2024
Conference Publication
Employing Novel Indirect Treatment Comparison Methodologies to Differentiate the Efficacy of Ofatumumab and Other High Efficacy Therapies versus Orally Administered Disease Modifying Therapies for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis
Nelson, Morag, Butzkueven, Helmut, Van der Walt, Anneke, Broadley, Simon, Riley, Nicholas, Adlard, Nicholas, Merschhemke, Martin, Stoneman, Dee, McCombe, Pamela, Barnett, Michael, Walker, Rob, Samjoo, Imtiaz, Haltner, Anja and Drudge, Chris (2024). Employing Novel Indirect Treatment Comparison Methodologies to Differentiate the Efficacy of Ofatumumab and Other High Efficacy Therapies versus Orally Administered Disease Modifying Therapies for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis. 16th Congress of the Pan-Asian Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, Bangkok, Thailand, 30 October - 2 November 2024. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2024
Journal Article
Effectiveness of cladribine compared to fingolimod, natalizumab, ocrelizumab and alemtuzumab in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Roos, Izanne, Sharmin, Sifat, Malpas, Charles, Ozakbas, Serkan, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Hodgkinson, Suzanne, Alroughani, Raed, Eichau Madueño, Sara, Boz, Cavit, van der Walt, Anneke, Butzkueven, Helmut, Buzzard, Katherine, Skibina, Olga, Foschi, Matteo, Grand’Maison, Francois, John, Nevin, Grammond, Pierre, Terzi, Murat, Prévost, Julie, Barnett, Michael, Laureys, Guy, Van Hijfte, Liesbeth, Luis Sanchez-Menoyo, Jose, Blanco, Yolanda, Oh, Jiwon, McCombe, Pamela, Ramo Tello, Cristina, Soysal, Aysun, Prat, Alexandre ... Kalincik, Tomas (2024). Effectiveness of cladribine compared to fingolimod, natalizumab, ocrelizumab and alemtuzumab in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 30 (9), 1163-1175. doi: 10.1177/13524585241267211
2024
Conference Publication
Utilisation of high efficacy therapy for managing multiple sclerosis in Australia
McCombe, Pamela, Butzkueven, Helmut, Samjoo, Imtiaz, Barnett, Michael, Broadley, Simon, Walt, Anneke Van der, Merschhemke, Martin, Adlard, Nicholas, Burke, Naomi, Riley, Nicholas and Walker, Rob (2024). Utilisation of high efficacy therapy for managing multiple sclerosis in Australia. ANZAN Annual Scientific Meeting 2024, Adelaide, SA Australia, 21-24 May 2024. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/bmjno-2024-anzan.23
2024
Conference Publication
Real-world Australian experience with Ofatumumab in the MSBase registry
Migocki, Margaret, Walt, Anneke Van der, Butzkueven, Helmut, Spelman, Tim, Kermode, Allan, Fabis-Pedrini, Marzena, Carroll, William M., Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, John, Nevin, Barnett, Michael, Hodgkinson, Suzanne, McCombe, Pamela, Kalincik, Tomas, Macdonell, Richard, Slee, Mark and Schmitt, Birte (2024). Real-world Australian experience with Ofatumumab in the MSBase registry. ANZAN Annual Scientific Meeting 2024, Adelaide, SA Australia, 21-24 May 2024. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/bmjno-2024-anzan.127
2024
Journal Article
Generation of human induced pluripotent stem cell lines from sporadic, sporadic frontotemporal dementia, familial SOD1, and familial C9orf72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients
Jiang, Leanne, Tracey, Timothy J., Gill, Melinder K., Howe, Stephanie L., Power, Dominique T., Bharti, Vanda, McCombe, Pamela A., Henderson, Robert D., Steyn, Frederik J. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2024). Generation of human induced pluripotent stem cell lines from sporadic, sporadic frontotemporal dementia, familial SOD1, and familial C9orf72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Stem Cell Research, 78 103447, 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2024.103447
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
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Pamela McCombe is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Survival and heterogeneity in Motor Neurone Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson
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Doctor Philosophy
Studies of neurophysiology of motor neurone disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of Epstein-Barr virus infection in multiple sclerosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Judith Greer
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Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Neutrophils in Motor Neuron Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Dr Jenny Fung, Dr John Lee, Dr Cedric Cui
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Doctor Philosophy
The potential role of CXCR2 activation in motor neuron disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Dr Jenny Fung, Dr John Lee
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Doctor Philosophy
Studies of myasthenia gravis using MGBase.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stefan Blum
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Defining the Clinical Phenotype of Autoantibody Associated Epilepsy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Kristen Radford
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2022
Master Philosophy
Studies of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Clinical and laboratory features of ALS
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson, Dr Aven Lee
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2017
Master Philosophy
Energy metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Assessment of body composition and energy expenditure
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson, Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo, Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Measuring the progression of upper motor neuron disease using diffusion MRI and its correlation with Clinical phenotype
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson, Dr Nyoman Kurniawan, Dr Kerstin Pannek
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Pathogenesis of Guillain-Barre syndrome and chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Judith Greer
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Biomarkers of Motor Neurone Disease : Neurophysiological studies of lower motor degeneration
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
EXAMINATION OF SURFACE-RECORDED MOTOR UNITS AND A NEW APPROACH TO MOTOR UNIT NUMBER ESTIMATES
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Judith Greer
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
IMMUNOSUPPRESSION IN EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Multimodal evaluation of autoimmune encephalitis in Queensland
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stefan Blum
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Asymmetry and Vulnerability in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular analysis of the motor neuron disease-associated protein, TDP-43
Associate Advisor
Media
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