
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
2007
Conference Publication
Increased population of activated T cells in patients after acute ischemic stroke
Yan, J., Greer, J. M., Cavanagh, H., Henderson, R., O'Sullivan, J., Read, S., Etherington, K. and McCombe, P. A. (2007). Increased population of activated T cells in patients after acute ischemic stroke. 37th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Society for Immunology, Sydney, Australia, 2-6 December 2007.
2007
Journal Article
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: an underrecognized disorder
Pandian, J. D., Dalton, K., Henderson, R. D. and McCombe, P. A. (2007). Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: an underrecognized disorder. Internal Medicine Journal, 37 (8), 529-535. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-5995.2007.01356.x
2006
Journal Article
Motor unit number estimation - A Bayesian approach
Ridall, P. Gareth, Pettitt, Anthony N., Henderson, Robert D. and McCombe, Pamela A. (2006). Motor unit number estimation - A Bayesian approach. Biometrics, 62 (4), 1235-1250. doi: 10.1111/j.1541-0420.2006.00577.x
2006
Journal Article
Studies of HLA associations in male and female patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP)
McCombe, Pamela A., Csurhes, Peter A. and Greer, Judith M. (2006). Studies of HLA associations in male and female patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Journal of Neuroimmunology, 180 (1-2), 172-177. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2006.07.017
2006
Journal Article
The stimulus-response curve and motor unit variability in normal subjects and subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Henderson, R. D., Ridall, G. R., Pettitt, A. N., McCombe, P. A. and Daube, J. R. (2006). The stimulus-response curve and motor unit variability in normal subjects and subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Muscle & Nerve, 34 (1), 34-43. doi: 10.1002/mus.20561
2005
Journal Article
T cell reactivity to P0, P2, PMP-22, and myelin basic protein in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
Csurhes, P. A., Sullivan, A-A., Green, K., Pender, M. P. and McCombe, P. A. (2005). T cell reactivity to P0, P2, PMP-22, and myelin basic protein in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 76 (10), 1431-1439. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2004.052282
2005
Journal Article
Riluzole: A glimmer of hope in the treatment of motor neurone disease
Henderson, R. D. and McCombe, P. A. (2005). Riluzole: A glimmer of hope in the treatment of motor neurone disease. Medical Journal of Australia, 183 (3), 164-164.
2005
Journal Article
Increased Circulating T Cell Reactivity to GM1 Ganglioside in Patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Csurhes, Peter A., Sullivan, Alice-Ann, Green, Kerryn, Greer, Judith M., Pender, Michael P. and McCombe, Pamela A. (2005). Increased Circulating T Cell Reactivity to GM1 Ganglioside in Patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 12 (4), 409-415. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2004.04.006
2005
Conference Publication
HLA-DR2 is associated with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) in females, but not males
McCombe, P. A., Csurhes, P. A., Alizart, M. A. and Greer, J. M. (2005). HLA-DR2 is associated with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) in females, but not males. 5th Annual Meeting of the Federation-of-Clinical-Immunology-Society, Boston, MA, U.S.A., 12-16 May 2005. Orlando, Florida: Academic Press.
2004
Journal Article
Effect Of Gender On T-Cell Proliferative Responses To Myelin Proteolipid Protein Antigens In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis And Controls
Greer, Judith M., Csurhes, Peter A., Pender, Michael P. and McCombe, Pamela A. (2004). Effect Of Gender On T-Cell Proliferative Responses To Myelin Proteolipid Protein Antigens In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis And Controls. Journal of Autoimmunity, 22 (4), 345-352. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2004.03.004
2003
Journal Article
A protective effect of early pregnancy factor on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced in Lewis rats by inoculation with myelin basic protein
Harness, J, Cavanagh, A, Morton, H and McCombe, P (2003). A protective effect of early pregnancy factor on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced in Lewis rats by inoculation with myelin basic protein. Journal of The Neurological Sciences, 216 (1), 33-41. doi: 10.1016/S0022-510X(03)00212-0
2003
Journal Article
Gender issues in multiple sclerosis
McCombe, Pamela A (2003). Gender issues in multiple sclerosis. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 3 (5), 649-660. doi: 10.1586/14737175.3.5.649
2003
Journal Article
Early pregnancy factor suppresses the infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages in the spinal cord of rats during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis but has no effect on apoptosis
Athanasas-Platsis, S., Zhang, B., Hillyard, N. C., Cavanagh, A. C., Csurhes, P. A., Morton, H. and McCombe, P. A. (2003). Early pregnancy factor suppresses the infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages in the spinal cord of rats during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis but has no effect on apoptosis. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 214 (1-2), 27-36. doi: 10.1016/S0022-510X(03)00170-9
2003
Journal Article
Increased circulating T cell reactivity to GM3 and GQ1b gangliosides in primary progressive multiple sclerosis
Pender, Michael P., Csurhes, Peter A., Wolfe, Nigel P., Hooper, Kaye D., Good, Michael F., McCombe, Pamela A. and Greer, Judith M. (2003). Increased circulating T cell reactivity to GM3 and GQ1b gangliosides in primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 10 (1), 63-66. doi: 10.1016/S0967-5868(02)00270-9
2003
Journal Article
Early pregnancy factor treatment suppresses the inflammatory response and adhesion molecule expression in the spinal cord of SJL/J mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to trinitrochlorobenzene
Zhang, B., Walsh, M. D., Nguyen, K. B., Hillyard, N. C., Cavanagh, A. C., McCombe, P. A. and Morton, H. (2003). Early pregnancy factor treatment suppresses the inflammatory response and adhesion molecule expression in the spinal cord of SJL/J mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to trinitrochlorobenzene. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 213 (1-2), 37-46. doi: 10.1016/S0022-510X(03)00103-5
2002
Conference Publication
Antibodies to PMP-22 peptides in inflammatory neuropathy
McCombe, P. A., Sullivan, A. A. and Alizart, M. A. (2002). Antibodies to PMP-22 peptides in inflammatory neuropathy. 10th International Congress on Neuromuscular Diseases, Vancouver BC, Canada, 7-12 July 2002. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV.
2002
Conference Publication
T cell responses to gangliosides in patients with inflammatory neuropathy
McCombe, P. A., Sullivan, A. A., Alizart, M. A., Csurhes, P. A., Greer, J. M. and Pender, M. P. (2002). T cell responses to gangliosides in patients with inflammatory neuropathy. Xth International Congress on Neuromuscular Diseases, Vancouver, Canada, 07-12 Jul 2002. Amsterda, The Netherlands: Elseiver. doi: 10.1016/S0022-510X(02)80069-7
2002
Conference Publication
Multifocal motor neuropathy: Improvement after autologous bone marrow transplantation
McCombe, P. A., Morton, J. and Saines, N. (2002). Multifocal motor neuropathy: Improvement after autologous bone marrow transplantation. 10th International Congress on Neuromuscular Diseases, Vancouver Canada, 7-12 July 2002. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0022-510X(02)80013-2
2002
Conference Publication
Blood T-cell reactivity to gangliosides GM3 and GQ1b is increased in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis
Pender, M. P., Csurhes, P. A., Wolfe, N. P., Cameron, K. D., McCombe, P. A., Greer, J. M. and Good, M. F. (2002). Blood T-cell reactivity to gangliosides GM3 and GQ1b is increased in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. 127th Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association, New York City, NY, USA, October 12-16 2002. NEW YORK: WILEY-LISS.
2001
Journal Article
Cyclosporin A Treatment Modulates Cytokine mRNA Expression by Inflammatory Cells Extracted from the Spinal Cord of Rats with Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Induced by Inoculation with Myelin Basic Protein
Harness, Jackie, Pender, Michael P. and McCombe, Pamela A. (2001). Cyclosporin A Treatment Modulates Cytokine mRNA Expression by Inflammatory Cells Extracted from the Spinal Cord of Rats with Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Induced by Inoculation with Myelin Basic Protein. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 187 (1-2), 7-16. doi: 10.1016/S0022-510X(01)00505-6
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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