
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
2015
Journal Article
The frequencies of Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors and their HLA ligands in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy are similar to those in Guillian Barre syndrome but differ from those of controls, suggesting a role for NK cells in
Blum, Stefan, Csurhes, Peter and McCombe, Pamela (2015). The frequencies of Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors and their HLA ligands in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy are similar to those in Guillian Barre syndrome but differ from those of controls, suggesting a role for NK cells in. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 285, 53-56. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.05.017
2015
Journal Article
Clinical features and impact of myasthenia gravis disease in Australian patients
Blum, Stefan, Lee, David, Gillis, David, McEniery, David F., Reddel, Stephen and McCombe, Pamela (2015). Clinical features and impact of myasthenia gravis disease in Australian patients. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 22 (7), 1164-1169. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2015.01.022
2015
Journal Article
Serial measurements of phosphorylated neurofilament-heavy in the serum of subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
McCombe, P. A., Pfluger, C., Singh, P., Lim, C. Y. H., Airey, C. and Henderson, R. D. (2015). Serial measurements of phosphorylated neurofilament-heavy in the serum of subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 353 (1-2), 122-129. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.04.032
2015
Journal Article
Switch to natalizumab versus fingolimod in active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Kalincik, Tomas, Horakova, Dana, Spelman, Tim, Jokubaitis, Vilija, Trojano, Maria, Lugaresi, Alessandra, Izquierdo, Guillermo, Rozsa, Csilla, Grammond, Pierre, Alroughani, Raed, Duquette, Pierre, Girard, Marc, Pucci, Eugenio, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Slee, Mark, Fernandez-Bolanos, Ricardo, Grand'Maison, Francois, Hupperts, Raymond, Verheul, Freek, Hodgkinson, Suzanne, Oreja-Guevara, Celia, Spitaleri, Daniele, Barnett, Michael, Terzi, Murat, Bergamaschi, Roberto, McCombe, Pamela, Sanchez-Menoyo, Jose, Simo Magdolna, Csepany, Tunde ... and on behalf of the MSBase Study Group (2015). Switch to natalizumab versus fingolimod in active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Annals of Neurology, 77 (3), 425-435. doi: 10.1002/ana.24339
2015
Conference Publication
Contribution of various relapse phenotypes to disability in multiple sclerosis
Kalincik, Tomas, Stewart, Tamasine, Jokubaitis, Vilija, Spelman, Tim, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Slee, Mark, Hodgkinson, Suzanne, McCombe, Pamela, Barnett, Michael, Vucic, Steve, Shuey, Neil, Shaw, Cameron and Butzkueven, Helmut (2015). Contribution of various relapse phenotypes to disability in multiple sclerosis. MS Research Australia Progress in MS Research Conference, Melbourne, Australia, Oct 29-30, 2015. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications. doi: 10.1177/1352458515616527
2015
Conference Publication
The missing brain glutamate transporters: what we missed and how this changes our understanding of the excitable brain
Pow, D., Lee, A., Klinkradt, S., Balcar, V. and McCombe, P. (2015). The missing brain glutamate transporters: what we missed and how this changes our understanding of the excitable brain. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, QLD Australia Conference, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13185
2015
Journal Article
Exposing asymmetric gray matter vulnerability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Devine, Matthew S., Pannek, Kerstin, Coulthard, Alan, McCombe, Pamela A., Rose, Stephen E. and Henderson, Robert D. (2015). Exposing asymmetric gray matter vulnerability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. NeuroImage: Clinical, 7, 782-787. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.03.006
2015
Conference Publication
Pregnancy outcomes in the alemtuzumab MS clinical development program
McCombe, P., Achiron, A., Brinar, V., Margolin, D. H., Palmer, J., Oyuela, P. and Compston, D. A. S. (2015). Pregnancy outcomes in the alemtuzumab MS clinical development program. Pactrims Invited Lecture, Unknown, Unknown. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications. doi: 10.1177/1352458514563659
2015
Conference Publication
First-line injectable therapy and pregnancy protect against long-term disability accrual in patients with relapse-onset multiple sclerosis
Jokubaitis, Vilija, Spelman, Tim, Kalincik, Tomask, Lorscheider, Johannes, McCombe, Pamela, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Hodgkinson, Suzanne and Butzkueven, Helmut (2015). First-line injectable therapy and pregnancy protect against long-term disability accrual in patients with relapse-onset multiple sclerosis. MS Research Australia Progress in MS Research Conference, Melbourne, Australia, Oct 29-30, 2015. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications. doi: 10.1177/1352458515616527
2015
Journal Article
Female infertility and multiple sclerosis: is this an issue?
McCombe, Pamela A. and Stenager, Egon (2015). Female infertility and multiple sclerosis: is this an issue?. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 21 (1), 5-7. doi: 10.1177/1352458514549406
2015
Book Chapter
High Caloric diets for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Ngo, Shyuan T., Steyn, Frederik J., McCombe, Pamela A. and Borges, Karin (2015). High Caloric diets for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Bioactive nutraceuticals and dietary supplements in neurological and brain disease: prevention and therapy. (pp. 355-361) edited by Ronald Ross Watson and Victor R. Preedy. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-411462-3.00036-9
2015
Conference Publication
Peripheral immune complement activation in neurodegenerative disease
Mantovani, S., Gordon, R., Ngo, S., Pfluger, C., O'Sullivan, J., Noakes, P., Henderson, R., McCombe, P. and Woodruff, T. (2015). Peripheral immune complement activation in neurodegenerative disease. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, Cairns Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13188
2014
Journal Article
Study of motor asymmetry in ALS indicates an effect of limb dominance on onset and spread of weakness, and an important role for upper motor neurons
Devine, Matthew S., Kiernan, Matthew C., Heggie, Susan, McCombe, Pamela A. and Henderson, Robert D. (2014). Study of motor asymmetry in ALS indicates an effect of limb dominance on onset and spread of weakness, and an important role for upper motor neurons. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 15 (7-8), 481-487. doi: 10.3109/21678421.2014.906617
2014
Journal Article
Therapeutic approaches to disease modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis in adults: an Australian and New Zealand perspective - part 3: treatment practicalities and recommendations
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, Taylor, Bruce V., Carroll, William M., Kilpatrick, Trevor J., King, John, McCombe, Pamela A., Pollard, John D. and Willoughby, Ernest (2014). Therapeutic approaches to disease modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis in adults: an Australian and New Zealand perspective - part 3: treatment practicalities and recommendations. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 21 (11), 1857-1865. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2014.01.017
2014
Journal Article
Therapeutic approaches to disease modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis in adults: An Australian and New Zealand perspective Part 1 Historical and established therapies
Broadley, Simon A., Barnett, Michael H., Boggild, Mike, Brew, Bruce J., Butzkueven, Helmut, Heard, Robert, Hodgkinson, Suzanne, Kermode, Allan G. i, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Macdonell, Richard A. L., Marriott, Mark, Mason, Deborah F., Parratt, John, Reddel, Stephen W., Shaw, Cameron P., Slee, Mark, Spies, Judith, Taylor, Bruce V., Carroll, William M., Kilpatrick, Trevor J., King, John, McCombe, Pamela A., Pollard, John D. and Willoughby, Ernest (2014). Therapeutic approaches to disease modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis in adults: An Australian and New Zealand perspective Part 1 Historical and established therapies. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 21 (11), 1835-1846. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2014.01.016
2014
Journal Article
Therapeutic approaches to disease modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis in adults: an Australian and New Zealand perspective: part 2 new and emerging therapies and their efficacy. MS Neurology Group of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists
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, Taylor, Bruce V, Carroll, William M, Kilpatrick, Trevor J, King, John, McCombe, Pamela A, Pollard, John D, Willoughby, Ernest and MS Neurology Group of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (2014). Therapeutic approaches to disease modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis in adults: an Australian and New Zealand perspective: part 2 new and emerging therapies and their efficacy. MS Neurology Group of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 21 (11), 1847-1856. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2014.01.018
2014
Journal Article
Multiparity in women with multiple sclerosis causes less long-term disability: No
McCombe, P. A. and Callaway, L. K. (2014). Multiparity in women with multiple sclerosis causes less long-term disability: No. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 20 (11), 1435-1436. doi: 10.1177/1352458514541979
2014
Journal Article
Elevation of the terminal complement activation products C5a and C5b-9 in ALS patient blood
Mantovani, S., Gordon, R., Macmaw, J. K., Plfluger, C. M., Henderson, R. D., Noakes, P. G., McCombe, P. A. and Woodruff, T. M. (2014). Elevation of the terminal complement activation products C5a and C5b-9 in ALS patient blood. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 276 (1-2), 213-218. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.09.005
2014
Journal Article
Gender differences in autoimmune disease
Ngo, S. T., Steyn, F. J. and McCombe, P. A. (2014). Gender differences in autoimmune disease. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 35 (3), 347-369. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2014.04.004
2014
Journal Article
Genetics of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP): current knowledge and future directions
Blum, Stefan and McCombe, Pamela A. (2014). Genetics of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP): current knowledge and future directions. Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System, 19 (2), 88-103. doi: 10.1111/jns5.12074
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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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
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
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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
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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