
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
2016
Journal Article
A case series of patients with autoimmune myasthenia gravis in association with invasive thymoma
McCombe, Pamela, Raj, Meenakshi, Henderson, Robert and Blum, Stefan (2016). A case series of patients with autoimmune myasthenia gravis in association with invasive thymoma. Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease, 17 (3), 129-134. doi: 10.1097/CND.0000000000000101
2016
Conference Publication
Durable Effect of Alemtuzumab on Clinical Outcomes Over 5 years in Treatment-Naive Patients With Active Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Despite Most Patients Not Receiving Treatment for 4 Years: CARE-MS I Extension Study
McCombe, P. A., Hartung, H-P, Havrdova, E., Selmaj, K. W., Margolin, D. H., Kasten, L. and Compston, D. A. S. (2016). Durable Effect of Alemtuzumab on Clinical Outcomes Over 5 years in Treatment-Naive Patients With Active Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Despite Most Patients Not Receiving Treatment for 4 Years: CARE-MS I Extension Study. 8th Congress of the Pan-Asian-Committee-for-Research-and-Treatment-of-Multiple-Sclerosis (PACTRIMS), Seoul South Korea, Nov 19-21, 2015. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2016
Conference Publication
Pregnancy Outcomes in Alemtuzumab-Treated Female Patients with Active RRMS in the Clinical Development Program.
McCombe, P., Achiron, A., Chambers, C., Fox, E. J., Otero, S., Margolin, D. H., Kasten, L. and Compston, D. A. S. (2016). Pregnancy Outcomes in Alemtuzumab-Treated Female Patients with Active RRMS in the Clinical Development Program.. 8th Congress of the Pan-Asian-Committee-for-Research-and-Treatment-of-Multiple-Sclerosis (PACTRIMS), Seoul South Korea, Nov 19-21, 2015. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2016
Conference Publication
Pregnancy Outcomes in Alemtuzumab-Treated Patients with Rrms
Rog, David, Chambers, Christina, McCombe, Pamela, Otero, Susana, Hellwig, Kerstin, Margolin, David, Thangavelu, Karthinathan and Oh, Jiwon (2016). Pregnancy Outcomes in Alemtuzumab-Treated Patients with Rrms. Annual Meeting of the Association-of-British-Neurologists (ABN), Brighton, England, May 17-19, 2016. LONDON: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2016-315106.155
2016
Conference Publication
Pregnancy protects against long-term disability accrual in relapsing-remitting MS
Jokubaitis, V. G., Kalincik, T., Lorscheider, J., Spelman, T., Horakova, D., Duquette, P., Girard, M., Prat, A., Izquierdo, G., Grammond, P., Pucci, E., Grand'Maison, F., Granella, F., Sola, P., Bergamaschi, R., Iuliano, G., Spitaleri, D., Hodgkinson, S., Olascoaga, J., Verheul, F., McCombe, P., Rozsa, C., Lechner-Scott, J., Terzi, M., Hughes, S., Saladino, M. -L., Lugaresi, A., Trojano, M. and Butzkueven, H. (2016). Pregnancy protects against long-term disability accrual in relapsing-remitting MS. 32nd Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), London, England, Sep 14-17, 2016. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2016
Conference Publication
Individual response to disease modifying therapies: a global observational cohort study
Kalincik, T., Sobisek, L., Jokubaitis, V., Spelman, T., Horakova, D., Havrdova, E., Trojano, M., Izquierdo, G., Lugaresi, A., Girard, M., Prat, A., Duquette, P., Grammond, P., Sola, P., Hupperts, R., Grand'Maison, F., Pucci, E., Boz, C., Alroughani, R., Van Pesch, V., Lechner-Scott, J., Terzi, M., Bergamaschi, R., Iuliano, G., Granella, F., Spitaleri, D., Shaygannejad, V., Oreja-Guevara, C., Slee, M. ... Butzkueven, H. (2016). Individual response to disease modifying therapies: a global observational cohort study. 32nd Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), London, England, Sep 14-17, 2016. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2016
Conference Publication
Alemtuzumab provides durable improvements in clinical outcomes in treatment-naive patients with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis over 6 years in the absence of continuous treatment (CARE-MS I).
Coles, A. J., Boyko, A. N., Cohen, J. A., De Seze, J., Fox, E. J., Havrdova, E., Hartung, H. -P., Inshasi, J. S., McCombe, P., Selmaj, K. W., Vermersch, P., Van Wijmeersch, B., Margolin, D. H., Thangavelu, K., Rodriguez, C. E. and Montalban, X. (2016). Alemtuzumab provides durable improvements in clinical outcomes in treatment-naive patients with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis over 6 years in the absence of continuous treatment (CARE-MS I).. 32nd Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), London, England, Sep 14-17, 2016. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2016
Conference Publication
Comparison of 5-year treatment outcomes between alemtuzumab versus natalizumab, fingolimod and interferon beta-1a
Kalincik, T., Brown, J. W., Robertson, N., Willis, M., Scolding, N., Pearson, O., Ziemssen, T., Hutchinson, M., McGuigan, C., Jokubaitis, V., Spelman, T., Horakova, D., Havrdova, E., Trojano, M., Izquierdo, G., Lugaresi, A., Prat, A., Girard, M., Duquette, P., Grammond, P., Alroughani, R., Pucci, E., Sola, P., Hupperts, R., Lechner-Scott, J., Fernandez Bolanos, R., Terzi, M., Van Pesch, V., Rozsa, C. ... Coles, A. (2016). Comparison of 5-year treatment outcomes between alemtuzumab versus natalizumab, fingolimod and interferon beta-1a. 32nd Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), London, England, Sep 14-17, 2016. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2016
Conference Publication
Australian cladribine experience
Kalincik, T., Lizak, N., Jokubaitis, V., Butler, E., Lechner-Scott, J., Slee, M., McCombe, P., Shaw, C., Skibina, O., Vucic, S., Shuey, N., Barnett, M., Parratt, J., Butzkueven, H. and Hodgkinson, S. (2016). Australian cladribine experience. 32nd Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), London, England, Sep 14-17, 2016. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2016
Conference Publication
Durable improvement in clinical outcomes in treatmentnaive patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who switched from SC IFNB-1a to alemtuzumab (care-MS I extension study 4-year follow-up)
Oreja-Guevara, C., Alroughani, R., Brassat, D., Boyko, A. N., McCombe, P., Steingo, B., Van Wijmeersch, B., Margolin, D. H., Thangavelu, K., Rodriguez, C. E. and Vermersch, P. (2016). Durable improvement in clinical outcomes in treatmentnaive patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who switched from SC IFNB-1a to alemtuzumab (care-MS I extension study 4-year follow-up). 32nd Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), London, England, Sep 14-17, 2016. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2015
Journal Article
Targeted assessment of lower motor neuron burden is associated with survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Devine, Matthew S., Ballard, Emma, O'Rourke, Peter, Kiernan, Matther C., Mccombe, Pamela A. and Henderson, Robert D. (2015). Targeted assessment of lower motor neuron burden is associated with survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 17 (3-4), 1-7. doi: 10.3109/21678421.2015.1125502
2015
Conference Publication
Defining secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
Lorscheider, Johannes, Buzzard, Katherine, Jokubaitis, Vilija, Spelman, Tim, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, McCombe, Pam, Vucic, Steve, Barnett, Michael, Butzkueven, Helmut and Kalincik, Tomas (2015). Defining secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. MS Research Australia Progress in MS Research Conference, Melbourne Australia, Oct 29-30, 2015. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2015
Journal Article
Altered expression of metabolic proteins and adipokines in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Ngo, S. T., Steyn, F. J., Huang, L., Mantovani, S., Pfluger, C. M. M., Woodruff, T. M., O'Sullivan, J. D., Henderson, R. D. and McCombe, P. A. (2015). Altered expression of metabolic proteins and adipokines in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 357 (1-2), 22-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.06.053
2015
Journal Article
Circulating brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and frequency of BDNF positive T cells in peripheral blood in human ischemic stroke: effect on outcome
Chan, Adeline, Yan, Jun, Csurhes, Peter, Greer, Judith and McCombe, Pamela (2015). Circulating brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and frequency of BDNF positive T cells in peripheral blood in human ischemic stroke: effect on outcome. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 286, 42-47. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.06.013
2015
Journal Article
When does ALS start? A novel SOD-1 p.Gly142Arg mutation causing motor neurone disease with prominent premorbid cramps and spasms
Ioannides, Z. A., Henderson, R. D., Robertson, T., Davis, M. and McCombe, P. A. (2015). When does ALS start? A novel SOD-1 p.Gly142Arg mutation causing motor neurone disease with prominent premorbid cramps and spasms. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 87 (9), 1031-1032. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2015-311582
2015
Conference Publication
Effect of relapse phenotype on the accumulation of disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Stewart, T., Jokubaitis, V., Spelman, T., Havrdova, E., Horakova, D., Trojano, M., Izquierdo, G., Girard, M., Duquette, P., Prat, A., Lugaresi, A., Grammond, P., Grand'Maison, F., Sola, P., Hupperts, R., Petersen, T., Pucci, E., Bergamaschi, R., Boz, C., Oreja-Guevara, C., Lechner-Scott, J., Alroughani, R., Ramo, C., Van Pesch, V., Fernandez-Bolanos, R., Iuliano, G., Rio, M. E., Granella, F., Slee, M. ... Kalincik, T. (2015). Effect of relapse phenotype on the accumulation of disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. 31st Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Barcelona Spain, Oct 07-10, 2015. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2015
Conference Publication
Pregnancy outcomes in patients with active RRMS who received alemtuzumab in the clinical development program
Achiron, A., Chambers, C., Fox, E. J., Mc Combe, P., Otero, S., Margolin, D. H., Kasten, L. and Compston, D. A. S. (2015). Pregnancy outcomes in patients with active RRMS who received alemtuzumab in the clinical development program. 31st Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Barcelona Spain, Oct 07-10, 2015. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2015
Conference Publication
10-year progression predictors after first treatment initiation in a relapsing-remitting MS cohort
Jokubaitis, V. G., Spelman, T., Kalincik, T., Travaglini, D., Paolicelli, D., Duquette, P., Girard, M., Prat, A., Havrdova, E., Horakova, D., Izquierdo, G., Grammond, P., Pucci, E., Grand'Maison, F., Bergamaschi, R., Granella, F., Van Pesch, V., Hupperts, R., Iuliano, G., Spitaleri, D., Sola, P., Boz, C., Fernandez-Bolanos, R., Petersen, T., Verheul, F., Olascoaga, J., McCombe, P., Rozsa, C., Lechner-Scott, J. ... Trojano, M. (2015). 10-year progression predictors after first treatment initiation in a relapsing-remitting MS cohort. 31st Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Barcelona Spain, Oct 07-10, 2015. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2015
Conference Publication
Defining secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
Lorscheider, J., Buzzard, K., Jokubaitis, V., Spelman, T., Havrdova, E., Horakova, D., Trojano, M., Izquierdo, G., Girard, M., Duquette, P., Prat, A., Lugaresi, A., Grand'Maison, F., Grammond, P., Hupperts, R., Alroughani, R., Sola, P., Boz, C., Terzi, M., Pucci, E., Lechner-Scott, J., Bergamaschi, R., Oreja-Guevara, C., Iuliano, G., Van Pesch, V., Bolanos, R. Fernandez, Granella, F., Rio, M. E., Ramo, C. ... Kalincik, T. (2015). Defining secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. 31st Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Barcelona Spain, Oct 07-10, 2015. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2015
Journal Article
A new era in the treatment of multiple sclerosis
Broadley, Simon A., Barnett, Michael H., Boggild, Mike, Brew, Bruce J., Butzkueven, Helmut, Heard, Robert, Hodgkinson, Suzanne, Kermode, Allan G., Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Macdonell, Richard A. L., Marriott, Mark, Mason, Deborah F., Parratt, John, Reddel, Stephen W., Shaw, Cameron P., Slee, Mark, Spies, Judith M., Taylor, Bruce V., Carroll, William M., Kilpatrick, Trevor J., King, John, McCombe, Pamela A., Pollard, John D. and Willoughby, Ernest (2015). A new era in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Medical Journal of Australia, 203 (3), 139-141e.1. doi: 10.5694/mja14.01218
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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Master Philosophy
Neurophysiology of Motor Neurone disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Henderson
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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
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 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
Studies of myasthenia gravis using MGBase.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stefan Blum
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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
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 potential role of CXCR2 activation in motor neuron disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Dr Jenny Fung, Dr John Lee
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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