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
2019
Conference Publication
Investigating the Effect of Teriflunomide on Brain Volume Loss in the Phase 3 TOPIC Study
Sprenger, Till, Lebrun-Frenay, Christine, Vermersch, Patrick, Park, Min Su, Chinchilla, Dennis, McCombe, Pamela, Lincoln, John, Kappos, Ludwig, Bergsland, Niels, Dwyer, Michael, Cavalier, Steven, Roesch, Nora, Somera-Molina, Kathleen, Poole, Elizabeth and Zivadinov, Robert (2019). Investigating the Effect of Teriflunomide on Brain Volume Loss in the Phase 3 TOPIC Study. 71st Annual Meeting of the American-Academy-of-Neurology (AAN), Philadelphia Pa, May 04-10, 2019. PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS.
2019
Conference Publication
Improved Clinical and MRI Disease Activity Outcomes, Including Slowing of Brain Volume Loss, in Alemtuzumab-Treated RRMS Patients: 8-Year Follow-up of CARE-MS I (TOPAZ Study)
Pelletier, Daniel, Arnold, Douglas L., Boyko, Alexey N., Comi, Giancarlo, Hartung, Hans-Peter, Havrdova, Eva Kubala, Inshasi, Jihad Said, McCombe, Pamela, Nakamura, Kunio, Oreja-Guevara, Celia, Pozzilli, Carlo, Selmaj, Krzysztof W., Scott, Thomas F., Chung, Luke, Daizadeh, Nadia, Afsar, Salman and Van Wijmeersch, Bart (2019). Improved Clinical and MRI Disease Activity Outcomes, Including Slowing of Brain Volume Loss, in Alemtuzumab-Treated RRMS Patients: 8-Year Follow-up of CARE-MS I (TOPAZ Study). 71st Annual Meeting of the American-Academy-of-Neurology (AAN), Philadelphia Pa, May 04-10, 2019. PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS.
2019
Conference Publication
Improved Clinical and MRI Disease Activity Outcomes, Including Slowing of Brain Volume Loss, in Alemtuzumab-Treated RRMS Patients: 8-Year Follow-up of CARE-MS I (TOPAZ Study)
Pelletier, Daniel, Arnold, Douglas L., Boyko, Alexey N., Comi, Giancarlo, Hartung, Hans-Peter, Havrdova, Eva Kubala, Inshasi, Jihad Said, McCombe, Pamela, Nakamura, Kunio, Oreja-Guevara, Celia, Pozzilli, Carlo, Selmaj, Krzysztof W., Scott, Thomas F., Chung, Luke, Daizadeh, Nadia, Afsar, Salman and Van Wijmeersch, Bart (2019). Improved Clinical and MRI Disease Activity Outcomes, Including Slowing of Brain Volume Loss, in Alemtuzumab-Treated RRMS Patients: 8-Year Follow-up of CARE-MS I (TOPAZ Study). AAN 71st Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA United States, 4-10 May 2019. Philadelphia, PA United States: Wolters Kluwer. doi: 10.1212/wnl.92.15_supplement.p3.2-037
2019
Conference Publication
Clinical determinants and therapeutic modifiers of relapse and disability outcomes in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Kunchok, Amy, Malpas, Charles, Nytrova, Petra, Havrdova, Eva, Alroughani, Raed, Terzi, Murat, Yamout, Bassem, Hor, Jyh Yung, Karabudak, Rana, Boz, Cavit, Ozakbas, Serkan, Olascoaga Urtaza, Francisco Javier, Simo, Magdolna, Granella, Franco, Patti, Francesco, McCombe, Pamela, Csepany, Tunde, Singhal, Bhim, Bergamaschi, Roberto, Fragoso, Yara, Al-Harbi, Talal, Turkoglu, Recai, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Laureys, Guy, Oreja-Guevara, Celia, Pucci, Eugenio, Sola, Patrizia, Ferraro, Diana, Altintas, Ayse ... Kalincik, Tomas (2019). Clinical determinants and therapeutic modifiers of relapse and disability outcomes in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. 71st Annual Meeting of the American-Academy-of-Neurology (AAN), Philadelphia, PA, United States, 4-10 May 2019. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Wolters Kluwer Health.
2019
Journal Article
Cumulative influence of parity-related genomic changes in multiple sclerosis
Mehta, Divya, Wani, Shivangi, Wallace, Leanne, Henders, Anjali K., Wray, Naomi R. and McCombe, Pamela A. (2019). Cumulative influence of parity-related genomic changes in multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 328, 38-49. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.12.004
2019
Journal Article
Tract integrity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: 6–month evaluation using MR diffusion tensor imaging
Alruwaili, Ashwag R., Pannek, Kerstin, Henderson, Robert D., Gray, Marcus, Kurniawan, Nyoman D. and McCombe, Pamela A. (2019). Tract integrity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: 6–month evaluation using MR diffusion tensor imaging. BMC Medical Imaging, 19 (1) 19, 19. doi: 10.1186/s12880-019-0319-3
2019
Journal Article
Incidence of pregnancy and disease-modifying therapy exposure trends in women with multiple sclerosis: a contemporary cohort study
Nguyen, Ai-Lan, Havrdova, Eva Kubala, Horakova, Dana, Izquierdo, Guillermo, Kalincik, Tomas, van der Walt, Anneke, Terzi, Murat, Alroughani, Raed, Duquette, Pierre, Girard, Marc, Prat, Alexandre, Boz, Cavit, Sola, Patrizia, Ferraro, Diana, Lugaresi, Alessandra, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Barnett, Michael, Grand'Maison, Francois, Grammond, Pierre, Ramo-Tello, Cristina, Turkoglu, Recai, McCombe, Pamela, Pucci, Eugenio, Trojano, Maria, Granella, Franco, Spitaleri, Daniele, Van Pesch, Vincent, Soysal, Aysun, Oreja-Guevara, Celia ... Jokubaitis, Vilija (2019). Incidence of pregnancy and disease-modifying therapy exposure trends in women with multiple sclerosis: a contemporary cohort study. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 28, 235-243. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2019.01.003
2019
Journal Article
Association of initial disease-modifying therapy with later conversion to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
Brown, J. William L., Coles, Alasdair, Horakova, Dana, Havrdova, Eva, Izquierdo, Guillermo, Prat, Alexandre, Girard, Marc, Duquette, Pierre, Trojano, Maria, Lugaresi, Alessandra, Bergamaschi, Roberto, Grammond, Pierre, Alroughani, Raed, Hupperts, Raymond, McCombe, Pamela, Van Pesch, Vincent, Sola, Patrizia, Ferraro, Diana, Grand'Maison, Francois, Terzi, Murat, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Flechter, Schlomo, Slee, Mark, Shaygannejad, Vahid, Pucci, Eugenio, Granella, Franco, Jokubaitis, Vilija, Willis, Mark, Rice, Claire ... Robertson, Neil (2019). Association of initial disease-modifying therapy with later conversion to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association, 321 (2), 175-187. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.20588
2019
Conference Publication
Postpartum relapse after first on-study pregnancy in RRMS patients treated with alemtuzumab in the phase 2 and 3 clinical development program over 8 years
Celius, E. G., Achiron, A., Compston, D. A. S., Derwenskus, J., Devonshire, V., Hellwig, K., Hutton, G. J., McCombe, P., Moore, M., Oh, J., Simm, R. F., Sousa, L., Vincent, S. G., Chung, L., Daizadeh, N., Mitchell, C. and Rog, D. (2019). Postpartum relapse after first on-study pregnancy in RRMS patients treated with alemtuzumab in the phase 2 and 3 clinical development program over 8 years. 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
Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with MS Treated with Teriflunomide: Clinical Study and Postmarketing Data
McCombe, P., Vukusic, S., Coyle, P. K., Jurgensen, S., Truffinet, P., Benamor, M., Poole, E., Chavin, J. and Chambers, C. (2019). Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with MS Treated with Teriflunomide: Clinical Study and Postmarketing Data. Congress of the Pan Asian Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (PACTRIMS), Sydney, NSW Australia, 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage.
2019
Conference Publication
Cladribine: a multicentre long-term efficacy biomarker australian study (CLOBAS)
Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Maltby, Vicky, Lyndon, Amanda, Monif, Mastura, Kilpatrick, Trevor, Butzkueven, Helmut, Taylor, Bruce, McCombe, Pamela, Hodgkinson, Suzanne, Fabis-Pedrini, Marzena, Kermode, Allan, Barnett, Michael and Kalincik, Tomas (2019). Cladribine: a multicentre long-term efficacy biomarker australian study (CLOBAS). Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN), Sydney, Australia, May 21-24, 2019. London, United Kingdom: B M J Group. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2019-anzan.119
2019
Conference Publication
Alemtuzumab maintains efficacy on clinical and MRI disease activity outcomes, including slowing of brain volume loss, over 9 years in RRMS patients: CARE-MS I follow-up (TOPAZ study)
Montalban, X., Arnold, D. L., Boyko, A. N., Comi, G., Hartung, H.-P., Havrdova, E. K., Inshasi, J. S., McCombe, P., Nakamura, K., Oreja-Guevara, C., Pelletier, D., Pozzilli, C., Scott, T. F., Vieira Alves Leon, S., Chung, L., Daizadeh, N., Afsar, S. and Selmaj, K. W. (2019). Alemtuzumab maintains efficacy on clinical and MRI disease activity outcomes, including slowing of brain volume loss, over 9 years in RRMS patients: CARE-MS I follow-up (TOPAZ study). 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
Alemtuzumab Improves Clinical and MRI Disease Activity Outcomes, Including Slowing of Brain Volume Loss, in RRMS Patients Over 8 Years: CARE-MS I Follow-up (TOPAZ Study)
McCombe, P., Comi, G., Arnold, D. L., Boyko, A. N., Hartung, H-P., Havrdova, E. K., Inshasi, J. S., 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 Disease Activity Outcomes, Including Slowing of Brain Volume Loss, in RRMS Patients Over 8 Years: CARE-MS I Follow-up (TOPAZ Study). Congress of the Pan Asian Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (PACTRIMS), Sydney, NSW Australia, 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage.
2019
Journal Article
Comparison of fingolimod, dimethyl fumarate and teriflunomide for multiple sclerosis
Kalincik, Tomas, Kubala Havrdova, Eva, Horakova, Dana, Izquierdo, Guillermo, Prat, Alexandre, Girard, Marc, Duquette, Pierre, Grammond, Pierre, Onofrj, Marco, Lugaresi, Alessandra, Ozakbas, Serkan, Kappos, Ludwig, Kuhle, Jens, Terzi, Murat, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Boz, Cavit, Grand'Maison, Francois, Prevost, Julie, Sola, Patrizia, Ferraro, Diana, Granella, Franco, Trojano, Maria, Bergamaschi, Roberto, Pucci, Eugenio, Turkoglu, Recai, McCombe, Pamela A, Pesch, Vincent Van, Van Wijmeersch, Bart, Solaro, Claudio ... Butzkueven, Helmut (2019). Comparison of fingolimod, dimethyl fumarate and teriflunomide for multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 90 (4), 458-468. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2018-319831
2018
Journal Article
The short and long-term effects of pregnancy on multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
McCombe, Pamela A. (2018). The short and long-term effects of pregnancy on multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 7 (12) 494, 494. doi: 10.3390/jcm7120494
2018
Journal Article
Association of inflammation and disability accrual in patients with progressive-onset multiple sclerosis
Hughes, Jordana, Jokubaitis, Vilija, Lugaresi, Alessandra, Hupperts, Raymond, Izquierdo, Guillermo, Prat, Alexandre, Girard, Marc, Duquette, Pierre, Grand'maison, Francois, Grammond, Pierre, Sola, Patrizia, Ferraro, DIana, Ramo-Tello, Cristina, Trojano, Maria, Slee, Mark, Shaygannejad, Vahid, Boz, Cavit, Lechner-Scott, Jeanette, Van Pesch, Vincent, Pucci, Eugenio, Solaro, Claudio, Verheul, Freek, Terzi, Murat, Granella, Franco, Spitaleri, Daniele, Alroughani, Raed, Jun, Jae-Kwan, Fambiatos, Adam, Van Der Walt, Anneke ... Hinson, Eloise (2018). Association of inflammation and disability accrual in patients with progressive-onset multiple sclerosis. JAMA Neurology, 75 (11), 1407-1415. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.2109
2018
Conference Publication
Alemtuzumab improves clinical and MRI disease activity 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., Oreja-Guevara, C., Pelletier, D., Pozzilli, C., Selmaj, K. W., Scott, T. F., Chung, L., Daizadeh, N., Afsar, S., Nakamura, K. and Van Wijmeersch, B. (2018). Alemtuzumab improves clinical and MRI disease activity outcomes, including slowing of brain volume loss, in RRMS patients over 8 years: CARE-MS I follow-up (TOPAZ study). 34th Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Berlin Germany, Oct 10-12, 2018. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2018
Conference Publication
Determinants of MS re-activation after discontinuing therapies
Husin, H., Wallace, J., Malpas, C., Sharmin, S., Horakova, D., Havrdova, E. Kubala, Izquierdo, G., Eichau, S., Prat, A., Girard, M., Duquette, P., Trojano, M., Grammond, P., Lugaresi, A., Onofrj, M., Ozakbas, S., Butzkueven, H., Sola, P., Ferraro, D., Alroughani, R., Grand'Maison, F., Terzi, M., Lechner-Scott, J., Boz, C., Hupperts, R., Shaygannejad, V., Bergamaschi, R., Pucci, E., Van Pesch, V. ... Kalincik, T. (2018). Determinants of MS re-activation after discontinuing therapies. 34th Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Berlin Germany, Oct 10-12, 2018. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2018
Conference Publication
Clinical and therapeutic predictors of relapse and disability outcomes in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Kunchok, A., Malpas, C., Horakova, D., Havrdova, E., Alroughani, R., Terzi, M., Yamout, B., Karabudak, R., Boz, C., Ozakbas, S., Olascoagam, J., Simon, M., Granellau, F., McCombe, P., Csepanym, T., Bergamaschi, R., Fragoso, Y., Al-Harbin, T., Turkoglu, R., Lechner-Scott, J., Laureys, G., Pucci, E., Sola, P., Ferraro, D., Altintas, A., Grand'Maison, F., Izquierdo, G., Eichau, S., Lugaresi, A. ... Kalincik, T. (2018). Clinical and therapeutic predictors of relapse and disability outcomes in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. 34th Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Berlin Germany, Oct 10-12, 2018. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2018
Conference Publication
Disability outcomes in patients with early cerebellar symptoms in multiple sclerosis
Le, M. V. H., Malpas, C., Sharmin, S., Horakova, D., Havrdova, E. K., Trojano, M., Izquierdo, G., Eichau, S., Ozakbas, S., Lugaresi, A., Prat, A., Girard, M., Duquette, P., Alroughani, R., Bergamaschi, R., Sola, P., Grammond, P., Grand'Maison, F., Terzi, M., Boz, C., Hupperts, R., Butzkueven, H., Van der Walt, A., Pucci, E., Granella, F., Van Pesch, V., Soysa, A., Yamout, B., Lechner-Scott, J. ... Kalincik, T. (2018). Disability outcomes in patients with early cerebellar symptoms in multiple sclerosis. 34th Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Berlin Germany, Oct 10-12, 2018. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
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
Enquiries
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