
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
1996
Journal Article
Corticosteroid Treatment Of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In The Lewis Rat Results in Loss of V Beta 8.2+ and Myelin Basic Protein-Reactive Cells from the Spinal Cord, with Increased Total T-Cell Apoptosis but Reduced Apoptosis of V Beta 8.2+
McCombe, P. A., Nickson, I., Tabi, Z. and Pender, M. P. (1996). Corticosteroid Treatment Of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In The Lewis Rat Results in Loss of V Beta 8.2+ and Myelin Basic Protein-Reactive Cells from the Spinal Cord, with Increased Total T-Cell Apoptosis but Reduced Apoptosis of V Beta 8.2+. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 70 (2), 93-101. doi: 10.1016/S0165-5728(96)00043-4
1996
Journal Article
A Study Of Human T-Cell Lines Generated From Multiple Sclerosis Patients And Controls By Stimulation With Peptides Of Myelin Basic Protein
Pender, M. P., Csurhes, P. A., Houghten, R. A., McCombe, P. A. and Good, M. F. (1996). A Study Of Human T-Cell Lines Generated From Multiple Sclerosis Patients And Controls By Stimulation With Peptides Of Myelin Basic Protein. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 70 (1), 65-74. doi: 10.1016/S0165-5728(96)00105-1
1996
Conference Publication
T-cell reactivity to peptides of proteolipid protein and myelin basic protein in multiple sclerosis
Pender, M. P., Greer, J. M., Csurhes, P. A., Cameron, K. D., McCombe, P. A. and Good, M. F. (1996). T-cell reactivity to peptides of proteolipid protein and myelin basic protein in multiple sclerosis. 121st Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association, Miami, FL, U.S.A., 13-16 October 1996. BOSTON: LITTLE BROWN CO. doi: 10.1002/ana.410400326
1996
Journal Article
Apoptosis of Vβ8.2+ T lymphocytes in the spinal cord during recovery from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced in Lewis rats by inoculation with myelin basic protein
McCombe, P. A., Nickson, I., Tabi, Z. and Pender, M. P. (1996). Apoptosis of Vβ8.2+ T lymphocytes in the spinal cord during recovery from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced in Lewis rats by inoculation with myelin basic protein. Journal of Neurological Sciences, 139 (1), 1-6. doi: 10.1016/S0022-510X(96)00005-6
1996
Conference Publication
Decreased expression of the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2 in T cells in the central nervous system in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Pender, M. P., White, C. A. and McCombe, P. A. (1996). Decreased expression of the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2 in T cells in the central nervous system in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. American Neurological Association Annual Meeting, Miami FL, United States, 13-16 October 1996. Hoboken, NJ, United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/ana.410400326
1995
Journal Article
Conduction abnormalities are restricted to the central nervous system in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced by inoculation with proteolipid protein but not with myelin basic protein (Vol 117, pg 975, 1994)
Chalk, Jonathan B., McCombe, Pamela A. and Pender, Michael P. (1995). Conduction abnormalities are restricted to the central nervous system in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced by inoculation with proteolipid protein but not with myelin basic protein (Vol 117, pg 975, 1994). Brain, 118, 1073-1073. doi: 10.1093/brain/118.4.1073-a
1995
Journal Article
The Proximal Peripheral Nervous System Is A Major Site Of Demyelination In Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Induced In The Lewis Rat By A Myelin Basic Protein-Specific T Cell
Pender, M. P., Tabi, Zsuzsanna, Nguyen, K. B. and McCombe, Pamela A. (1995). The Proximal Peripheral Nervous System Is A Major Site Of Demyelination In Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Induced In The Lewis Rat By A Myelin Basic Protein-Specific T Cell. Acta Neuropathologica, 89 (6), 527-531. doi: 10.1007/s004010050284
1995
Journal Article
Restoration of conduction in the spinal roots correlates with clinical recovery from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Chalk, Jonathan B., McCombe, Pamela A. and Pender, Michael P. (1995). Restoration of conduction in the spinal roots correlates with clinical recovery from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Muscle and Nerve, 18 (10), 1093-1110. doi: 10.1002/mus.880181005
1995
Conference Publication
Reactivity to myelin proteolipid protein in multiple sclerosis patients
Cameron, K., Csurhes, P., Greer, J., McCombe, P. and Pender, M. (1995). Reactivity to myelin proteolipid protein in multiple sclerosis patients. The 9th International Congress of Immunology, San Francisco, California, USA, 23-29 July 1995. San Francisco, California, USA: American Association of Immunologists and the International Union of Immunological Societies.
1995
Journal Article
Antigen-Specific Down-Regulation of Myelin Basic Protein-Reactive T Cells During Spontaneous Recovery From Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis: Further Evidence of Apoptotic Deletion of Autoreactive T Cells in the Central Nervous System
Tabi, Zsuzsanna, McCombe, Pamela A. and Pender, Michael P. (1995). Antigen-Specific Down-Regulation of Myelin Basic Protein-Reactive T Cells During Spontaneous Recovery From Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis: Further Evidence of Apoptotic Deletion of Autoreactive T Cells in the Central Nervous System. International Immunology, 7 (6), 967-973. doi: 10.1093/intimm/7.6.967
1994
Journal Article
Clinical And Histological Findings in Proteolipid Protein-Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) In The Lewis Rat. Distribution of Demyelination Differs From That in EAE Induced by Other Antigens
Chalk, Jonathan B., McCombe, Pamela A., Smith, Ross and Pender, Michael P. (1994). Clinical And Histological Findings in Proteolipid Protein-Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) In The Lewis Rat. Distribution of Demyelination Differs From That in EAE Induced by Other Antigens. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 123 (1-2), 154-161. doi: 10.1016/0022-510X(94)90218-6
1994
Journal Article
Macrophage apoptosis in the central nervous system in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Nguyen, Kim B., McCombe, Pamela A. and Pender, Michael P. (1994). Macrophage apoptosis in the central nervous system in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Journal of Autoimmunity, 7 (2), 145-152. doi: 10.1006/jaut.1994.1011
1994
Journal Article
Inflammatory Cells, Microglia and MHC Class II Antigen-Positive Cells in the Spinal Cord of Lewis Rats with Acute and Chronic Relapsing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
McCombe, P. A., de Jersey, J. and Pender, M. P. (1994). Inflammatory Cells, Microglia and MHC Class II Antigen-Positive Cells in the Spinal Cord of Lewis Rats with Acute and Chronic Relapsing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 51 (2), 153-167. doi: 10.1016/0165-5728(94)90077-9
1994
Journal Article
Conduction abnormalities are restricted to the central nervous system in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced by inoculation with proteolipid protein but not with myelin basic protein
Chalk, Jonathan B., McCombe, Pamela A. and Pender, Michael P. (1994). Conduction abnormalities are restricted to the central nervous system in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced by inoculation with proteolipid protein but not with myelin basic protein. Brain, 117 (5), 975-986. doi: 10.1093/brain/117.5.975
1994
Journal Article
Apoptotic Elimination Of V beta 8.2+ Cells From The Central Nervous System During Recovery From Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Induced By The Passive Transfer Of V beta 8.2+ Encephalitogenic T Cells
Tabi, Zsuzsanna, McCombe, Pamela A. and Pender, Michael P. (1994). Apoptotic Elimination Of V beta 8.2+ Cells From The Central Nervous System During Recovery From Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Induced By The Passive Transfer Of V beta 8.2+ Encephalitogenic T Cells. European Journal of Immunology, 24 (11), 2609-2617. doi: 10.1002/eji.1830241107
1993
Conference Publication
Chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: Studies of cells from the spinal cord
McCombe, P. A., Dejersey, J. and Pender, M. P. (1993). Chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: Studies of cells from the spinal cord. Joint Meeting of the Australasian Society for Immunology and Society for Leukocyte Biology, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 1-5 December 1993. Bethesda, MD, United States: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
1993
Journal Article
Failure to Detect Measles Virus Sequences in Lymphocytes of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Bates, P. R., McCombe, P. A., Sheean, G. L., Cooksley, W. G. E. and Pender, M. P. (1993). Failure to Detect Measles Virus Sequences in Lymphocytes of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine, 23 (1), 55-55. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1993.tb00539.x
1993
Conference Publication
Human T cell responses to myelin basic protein isoforms
McCombe, P. A., Csurhes, P. A., Houghten, R. A., Good, M. F. and Pender, M. P. (1993). Human T cell responses to myelin basic protein isoforms. International Congress on the Regulation of Leukocyte Production and Immune Function held at the Joint Meeting of the Australasian Society for Immunology and Society for Leukocyte Biology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1-5 December 1993. Bethesda, MD, United States: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
1993
Conference Publication
Flow cytometric analysis of apoptotic T cells isolated from the central nervous system in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Tabi, Z., McCombe, P. A. and Pender, M. P. (1993). Flow cytometric analysis of apoptotic T cells isolated from the central nervous system in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Joint Meeting of the Australasian Society for Immunology and Society for Leukocyte Biology, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 1-5 December 1993. Bethesda, MD, United States: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
1992
Journal Article
Vestibular and Ventilatory Dysfunction in Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy Associated With Primary Sjogren's Syndrome
McCombe, P. A., Sheean, G. L., McLaughlin, D. B. and Pender, M. P. (1992). Vestibular and Ventilatory Dysfunction in Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy Associated With Primary Sjogren's Syndrome. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 55 (12), 1211-1212. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.55.12.1211
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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