
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
2020
Journal Article
Progression and survival of patients with motor neuron disease relative to their fecal microbiota
Ngo, Shyuan T., Restuadi, Restuadi, McCrea, Allan F., Van Eijk, Ruben P., Garton, Fleur, Henderson, Robert D., Wray, Naomi R., McCombe, Pamela A. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2020). Progression and survival of patients with motor neuron disease relative to their fecal microbiota. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 21 (7-8), 1-14. doi: 10.1080/21678421.2020.1772825
2020
Journal Article
Human brain neurons express a novel splice variant of excitatory amino acid transporter 5 (hEAAT5v)
Lee, Aven, Balcar, Vladimir J., McCombe, Pamela and Pow, David V. (2020). Human brain neurons express a novel splice variant of excitatory amino acid transporter 5 (hEAAT5v). Journal of Comparative Neurology, 528 (17) cne.24907, 3134-3142. doi: 10.1002/cne.24907
2020
Conference Publication
Cladribine: a multicentre Long-term efficacy Biomarker Australian Study (CLOBAS)
L-Scott, J., Maltby, V., Lydon, A., Monif, M., Kilpatrick, T., Butzkueven, H., Taylor, B., McCombe, P., Hodgkinson, S., Fabis-Pedrini, M., Kermode, A., Barnett, M. and Kalincik, Tomas (2020). Cladribine: a multicentre Long-term efficacy Biomarker Australian Study (CLOBAS). Conference of the Pan Asian Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (PACTRIMS), Singapore, Singapore, 13-15 November 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage.
2020
Conference Publication
Clinical experience with cladribine in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Hodgkinson, S., Lizak, N., Butler, E., Lechner-Scott, J., Slee, M., McCombe, P., Shaw, C., Skibina, O., Vucic, S., Shuey, N., Barnett, M., Parratt, J., Butzkueven, H., Jack, D., Fabris, J., Kalincik, T. and Jokubaitis, V. G. (2020). Clinical experience with cladribine in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Conference of the Pan-Asian-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (PACTRIMS), Singapore, Singapore, 13-15 November 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage.
2019
Journal Article
Characterization of the human myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody response in demyelination
Tea, Fiona, Lopez, Joseph A., Ramanathan, Sudarshini, Merheb, Vera, Lee, Fiona X. Z., Zou, Alicia, Pilli, Deepti, Patrick, Ellis, van der Walt, Anneke, Monif, Mastura, Tantsis, Esther M., Yiu, Eppie M., Vucic, Steve, Henderson, Andrew P. D., Fok, Anthony, Fraser, Clare L., Lechner-Scott, Jeanette, Reddel, Stephen W., Broadley, Simon, Barnett, Michael H., Brown, David A., Lunemann, Jan D., Dale, Russell C., Brilot, Fabienne, Sinclair, Adriane, Kermode, Allan G., Kornberg, Andrew, Bye, Annie, McGettigan, Benjamin ... Australasian and New Zealand MOG Study Group (2019). Characterization of the human myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody response in demyelination. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 7 (1) 145. doi: 10.1186/s40478-019-0786-3
2019
Conference Publication
Modifiers of the effectiveness of MS immunotherapies
Kalincik, T., Malpas, C., Sharmin, S., Horakova, D., Havrdova, E. K., Trojano, M., Izquierdo, G., Eichau, S., Onofrj, M., Lugaresi, A., Prat, A., Girard, M., Duquette, P., Grammond, P., Grand'Maison, F., Sola, P., Ferraro, D., Shaygannejad, V., Alroughani, R., Hupperts, R., Terzi, M., Boz, C., Lechner-Scott, J., Cartechini, E., Van Pesch, V., Iuliano, G., Granella, F., Bergamaschi, R., Bolanos, R. F. ... Butzkueven, H. (2019). Modifiers of the effectiveness of MS immunotherapies. 35th Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) / 24th Annual Conference of Rehabilitation in MS, Stockholm Sweden, Sep 11-13, 2019. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2019
Conference Publication
Comparative effectiveness of natalizumab and fingolimod in different subgroups of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Sharmin, S., Lefort, M., Andersen, J., Horakova, D., Havrdova, E. K., Alroughani, R., Izquierdo, G., Eichau, S., Ozakbas, S., Butzkueven, H., Patti, F., Onofrj, M., Lugaresi, A., Terzi, M., Grammond, P., Grand'Maison, F., Yamout, B., Prat, A., Girard, M., Duquette, P., Boz, C., Trojano, M., McCombe, P., Slee, M., Lechner-Scott, J., Turkoglu, R., Sola, P., Ferraro, D., Granella, F. ... Kalincik, T. (2019). Comparative effectiveness of natalizumab and fingolimod in different subgroups of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. 35th Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) / 24th Annual Conference of Rehabilitation in MS, Stockholm Sweden, Sep 11-13, 2019. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2019
Conference Publication
Determinants of therapeutic lag in relapsing multiple sclerosis
Roos, I., Frascoli, F., Horakova, D., Havrdova, E. K., Trojano, M., Izquierdo, G., Eichau, S., Patti, F., Prat, A., Girard, M., Duquette, P., Onofr, M., Lugaresi, A., Grammond, P., Ozakbas, S., Sola, P., Ferraro, D., Bergamaschi, R., Cartechini, E., Sa, M. J., Boz, C., Grand'Maison, F., Lechner-Scott, J., Terzi, M., Granella, F., Alroughani, R., Iuliano, G., Hupperts, R., Spitaleri, D. ... Kalincik, T. (2019). Determinants of therapeutic lag in relapsing multiple sclerosis. 35th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) / 24th Annual Conference of Rehabilitation in MS, Stockholm, Sweden, 11-13 September 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2019
Conference Publication
Introducing Machine Learning for full MS patient trajectories improves predictions for disability score progression
De Brouwer, E., Peeters, L., Becker, T., Altintas, A., Soysal, A., Van Wijmeersch, B., Boz, C., Oreja-Guevara, C., Gobbi, C., Solaro, C., Ramo, C., Spitaleri, D. L., Maimone, D., Aguera-Morales, E., Cartechini, E., Butler, E., Havrdova, E., Patti, F., Granella, F., Grand'Maison, F., Moore, F., Verheul, F., Iuliano, G., Butzkueven, H., Lechner-Scott, J., Kuhle, J., Sanchez Menoyo, J. L., Rojas, J. I., Prevost, J. ... Moreau, Y. (2019). Introducing Machine Learning for full MS patient trajectories improves predictions for disability score progression. 35th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) / 24th Annual Conference of Rehabilitation in MS, Stockholm, Sweden, 11-13 September 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2019
Conference Publication
Aggressive form of multiple sclerosis can be predicted early after disease onset
Malpas, C. B., Manouchehrinia, A., Sharmin, S., Roos, I., Horakova, D., Havrdova, E. K., Trojano, M., Izquierdo, G., Eichau, S., Bergamaschi, R., Sola, P., Ferraro, D., Lugaresi, A., Prat, A., Girard, M., Duquette, P., Grammond, P., Grand'Maison, F., Ozakbas, S., Van Pesch, V., Granella, F., Hupperts, R., Pucci, E., Boz, C., Iuliano, G., Sidhom, Y., Gouider, R., Spitaleri, D., Butzkueven, H. ... Kalincik, T. (2019). Aggressive form of multiple sclerosis can be predicted early after disease onset. 35th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) / 24th Annual Conference of Rehabilitation in MS, Stockholm, Sweden, 11-13 September 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2019
Conference Publication
Predicting long-term sustained disability progression in multiple sclerosis
Sharmin, S., Malpas, C., Horakova, D., Havrdova, E. K., Izquierdo, G., Eichau, S., Trojano, M., Prat, A., Girard, M., Duquette, P., Onofrj, M., Lugaresi, A., Grand'Maison, F., Grammond, P., Sola, P., Ferraro, D., Terzi, M., Hupperts, R., Alroughani, R., Boz, C., Shaygannejad, V., Van Pesch, V., Cartechini, E., Kappos, L., Lechner-Scott, J., Bergamaschi, R., Turkoglu, R., Solaro, C., Ramo-Tello, C. ... Kalincik, T. (2019). Predicting long-term sustained disability progression in multiple sclerosis. 35th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) / 24th Annual Conference of Rehabilitation in MS, Stockholm, Sweden, 11-13 September 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2019
Conference Publication
Personalizing treatment effect based on patient's baseline profile: a statistical modelling approach applied to randomized clinical trial and observational study data
Bovis, F., Kalincik, T., Lublin, F., Cutter, G., Malpas, C., Horakova, D., Havrdova, E. Kubala, Trojano, M., Prat, A., Girard, M., Duquette, P., Onofrj, M., Lugaresi, A., Izquierdo, G., Eichau, S., Patti, F., Terzi, M., Grammond, P., Bergamaschi, R., Sola, P., Ferraro, D., Ozakbas, S., Iuliano, G., Boz, C., Hupperts, R., Grand'Maison, F., Oreja-Guevara, C., Van Pesch, V., Cartechini, E. ... Sormani, M. P. (2019). Personalizing treatment effect based on patient's baseline profile: a statistical modelling approach applied to randomized clinical trial and observational study data. 35th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) / 24th Annual Conference of Rehabilitation in MS, Stockholm, Sweden, 11-13 September 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2019
Journal Article
Risk of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: A longitudinal study
Fambiatos, Adam, Jokubaitis, Vilija, Horakova, Dana, Havrdova, Eva Kubala, Trojano, Maria, Prat, Alexandre, Girard, Marc, Duquette, Pierre, Lugaresi, Alessandra, Izquierdo, Guillermo, Grand'Maison, Francois, Grammond, Pierre, Sola, Patrizia, Ferraro, Diana, Alroughani, Raed, Terzi, Murat, Hupperts, Raymond, Boz, Cavit, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Pucci, Eugenio, Bergamaschi, Roberto, Van Pesch, Vincent, Ozakbas, Serkan, Granella, Franco, Turkoglu, Recai, Iuliano, Gerardo, Spitaleri, Daniele, McCombe, Pamela, Solaro, Claudio ... Kalincik, Tomas (2019). Risk of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: A longitudinal study. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 26 (1) 1352458519868990, 135245851986899-90. doi: 10.1177/1352458519868990
2019
Journal Article
Long-term follow-up of patients with myasthenia gravis treated with low-dose rituximab
Chan, Fiona, Swayne, Andrew, Gillis, David, Walsh, Michael, Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A., Wong, Richard C. and Blum, Stefan (2019). Long-term follow-up of patients with myasthenia gravis treated with low-dose rituximab. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 90 (8), 1-2. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2018-319410
2019
Journal Article
Interaction of neurotransmitters and neurochemicals with lymphocytes
Kerage, Daniel, Sloan, Erica K., Mattarollo, Stephen R. and McCombe, Pamela A. (2019). Interaction of neurotransmitters and neurochemicals with lymphocytes. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 332, 99-111. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2019.04.006
2019
Conference Publication
Alemtuzumab improves clinical and MRI outcomes, including slowing of brain volume loss, in RRMS patients over 8 years: CARE-MS I follow-up (TOPAZ Study)
Comi, G., Arnold, D. L., Boyko, A. N., Hartung, H. -P., Havrdova, E. K., Inshasi, J. S., McCombe, P., Nakamura, K., Oreja-Guevara, C., Pelletier, D., Pozzilli, C., Selmaj, K. W., Scott, T. F., Chung, L., Daizadeh, N., Afsar, S. and Van Wijmeersch, B. (2019). Alemtuzumab improves clinical and MRI outcomes, including slowing of brain volume loss, in RRMS patients over 8 years: CARE-MS I follow-up (TOPAZ Study). 5th Congress of the European-Academy-of-Neurology (EAN), Oslo Norway, Jun 29-Jul 02, 2019. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2019
Conference Publication
Investigating the effect of teriflunomide on diffuse cortical grey matter volume loss in the phase 3 TOPIC study
Sprenger, T., Lebrun-Frenay, C., Vermersch, P., Park, M. S., Chinchilla, D., McCombe, P., Lincoln, J., Bergsland, N., Dwyer, M., Kappos, L., Cavalier, S., Roesch, N., Guce, M., Poole, E. and Zivadinov, R. (2019). Investigating the effect of teriflunomide on diffuse cortical grey matter volume loss in the phase 3 TOPIC study. 5th Congress of the European-Academy-of-Neurology (EAN), Oslo Norway, Jun 29-Jul 02, 2019. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2019
Journal Article
Loss of appetite is associated with a loss of weight and fat mass in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Ngo, Shyuan T., Van Eijk, Ruben P. A., Chachay, V. , Van Den Berg, Leonard H., Mccombe, Pamela A., Henderson, Robert D. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2019). Loss of appetite is associated with a loss of weight and fat mass in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 20 (7-8), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/21678421.2019.1621346
2019
Journal Article
Gut microbiota in ALS: possible role in pathogenesis?
McCombe, Pamela A., Henderson, Robert D., Lee, Aven, Lee, John D., Woodruff, Trent M., Restuadi, Restuadi, McRae, Allan, Wray, Naomi R., Ngo, Shyuan and Steyn, Frederik J. (2019). Gut microbiota in ALS: possible role in pathogenesis?. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 19 (9), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/14737175.2019.1623026
2019
Journal Article
Women who contributed to past research in multiple sclerosis
McCombe, Pamela A. (2019). Women who contributed to past research in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 25 (11), 1352458519846101-1443. doi: 10.1177/1352458519846101
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
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
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
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of Epstein-Barr virus infection in multiple sclerosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Judith Greer
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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