Overview
Background
Stefan is a Staff Specialist in Neurology at the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) and the Mater Centre for Neuroscience. He finished his training as neurologist in 2012.
He runs dedicated multiple sclerosis (MS) and Neuroimmunology clinics at the PAH, leading in modern MS therapies. Moreover, he has been at the forefront of advancing the field of neuroimmunology in Queensland, with establishment of dedicated neuroimmunology outpatient clinics at the RBWH and PAH, combining expertise from neurologists and immunologists in the care of this very complex group of disorders.
In addition to his busy, full-time clinical workload, Stefan has been involved as PI or CI in a range of clinical trials in the fields of MS, botulinum toxin, CIDP and Pompe’s disease. Additionally, he has performed and is involved in ongoing research projects of neuroimmunological disorders such as neuromyelitis optica, myasthenia gravis and autoimmune limbic encephalitis. He has been a member of the New Horizons study to assess prevalence of anti-neuronal antibodies in patients with new onset psychosis.
Prior to this, Stefan finished a PhD in the field of ‘Immunogenetics of Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy’ at the University of Queensland in 2014. He also completed a doctoral thesis at the University of Heidelberg, Germany in 2002 in the field of T cell immunology. During this time, he has developed solid skills in bench-side immunological research.
Currently, he is neurological lead in a diverse group of clinicians and scientists investigating the role of antineuronal antibodies in neurological and psychiatric disease. He supervises 3 PhD students in the field of advanced imaging in autoimmune encephalitis and multiple sclerosis. He is currently building up a laboratory to test antineuronal antibodies using live cell assays.
Availability
- Associate Professor Stefan Blum is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Research interests
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Neuronal cell surface antibodies in neurological and psychiatric disease
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Social cognition in Multiple Sclerosis
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The role of low dose Rituximab in autoimmune neurological disease
Research impacts
Stefan has been medical advisor and organiser of conferences of the national myasthenia gravis association. He is neurological advisor of the state-wide blood product services regarding use of immunoglobulins in neuroimmunological disorders. He is involved in the organisation of the International Society of Neuroimmunology Conference in Brisbane 2018. He is secretary of Neuroimmunology Australia, a national group of clinicians and researchers in the field of neuroimmunology. He was lead clinician in the development of referral guidelines for state-wide referral guidelines to Queensland Health Neurology services (CPC). He has been involved for many years in the education of medical student and young doctors, winning several teaching awards.
Works
Search Professor Stefan Blum’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
The clinical relevance of MOG antibody testing in cerebrospinal fluid
Reynolds, Molly, Tan, Irene, Nguyen, Kristy, Merheb, Vera, Lee, Fiona X. Z., Trewin, Benjamin P, Lerch, Magdalena, Shah, Snehal, Wolfe, Nigel, Buzzard, Katherine, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Fabis-Pedrini, Marzena, Fok, Anthony, John, Nevin, Kneebone, Chris, Yiannikas, Con, Brown, David A., Kermode, Allan G., Reddel, Stephen, Dale, Russell C., Brilot, Fabienne, Ramanathan, Sudarshini, Adam, Robert, Andersen, Jane, Andrews, Ian, Antony, Jayne, Aouad, Patrick, Badve, Monica, Barnett, Michael H. ... on behalf of the Australasian MOGAD Study Group (2024). The clinical relevance of MOG antibody testing in cerebrospinal fluid. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 1-6. doi: 10.1002/acn3.52163
2024
Journal Article
Long-term efficacy and safety of Rituximab in the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Hayes, Michael Thomas Gerard, Adam, Robert J., McCombe, Pamela Ann, Walsh, Michael and Blum, Stefan (2024). Long-term efficacy and safety of Rituximab in the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 10 (2) ARTN 20552173241257876, 20552173241257876. doi: 10.1177/20552173241257876
2024
Journal Article
Onboarding of siponimod in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients in Australia: Novel, real-world evidence from the MSGo digital support programme
Hardy, TA, Aouad, P, Barnett, MH, Blum, S, Broadley, S, Carroll, WM, Crimmins, D, Griffiths, D, Hodgkinson, S, Lechner-Scott, J, Lee, A, Malhotra, R, McCombe, P, Parratt, J, Plummer, C, Van der Walt, A, Martel, K and Walker, RA (2024). Onboarding of siponimod in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients in Australia: Novel, real-world evidence from the MSGo digital support programme. Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical, 10 (1) ARTN 20552173231226106, 20552173231226106. doi: 10.1177/20552173231226106
2023
Journal Article
Phenotypic variability within the desminopathies: A case series of three patients
Yeow, Dennis, Katz, Matthew, Henderson, Robert, Prasad, Sandhir, Denman, Russell, Blum, Stefan, Davis, Mark, Robertson, Thomas and McCombe, Pamela (2023). Phenotypic variability within the desminopathies: A case series of three patients. Frontiers in Neurology, 13 1110934. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1110934
2022
Journal Article
Neuroimaging characteristics may aid in diagnosis, subtyping, and prognosis in autoimmune encephalitis
Broadley, James, Wesselingh, Robb, Beech, Paul, Seneviratne, Udaya, Kyndt, Chris, Buzzard, Katherine, Nesbitt, Cassie, D’Souza, Wendyl, Brodtmann, Amy, Macdonell, Richard, Kalincik, Tomas, O’Brien, Terence J., Butzkueven, Helmut, Monif, Mastura, Griffiths, Sarah, Rushen, Tiffany, Tan, Tracie, Malpas, Charles, Halliday, Amy, Alpitsis, Rubina, Seery, Nabil, Tarlinton, David, Reddel, Steve, Hardy, Todd, Taylor, Bruce, Long, Brian, Wijeratne, Tissa, White, Owen, Fielding, Jo ... Clough, Meaghan (2022). Neuroimaging characteristics may aid in diagnosis, subtyping, and prognosis in autoimmune encephalitis. Neurological Sciences, 44 (4), 1327-1340. doi: 10.1007/s10072-022-06523-9
2022
Journal Article
Oral health‐related quality of life is more strongly correlated with mental health than with oral health in relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis
Nangle, Matthew R., Manchery, Nithin, Swayne, Andrew, Boocock, Helen, Blum, Stefan and Henry, Julie D. (2022). Oral health‐related quality of life is more strongly correlated with mental health than with oral health in relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 50 (1), 62-68. doi: 10.1111/joor.13387
2022
Journal Article
Psychiatric manifestations of autoimmune encephalitis
Ford, Hannah, Griffith, Sarah, Warren, Nicola, Swayne, Adrew, Blum, Stefan, Butzkueven, Helmut, O'Brien, Terence J., Velakoulis, Dennis, Kulkarni, Jayashri and Monif, Mastura (2022). Psychiatric manifestations of autoimmune encephalitis. Autoimmunity Reviews, 21 (9) 103145, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103145
2022
Conference Publication
Novel generation of real-world evidence through MSGo, a digital support program supporting the use of siponimod in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients in Australia
Hardy, Todd, Aouad, Patrick, Blum, Stefan, Broadley, Simon, Carroll, William, Crimmins, Denis, Griffiths, Dayna, Hodgkinson, Suzanne, Lechner-Scott, Jeanette, Lee, Andrew, Malhotra, Ram, Parratt, John, Plummer, Chris, Walt, Anneke Van der and Walker, Robert (2022). Novel generation of real-world evidence through MSGo, a digital support program supporting the use of siponimod in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients in Australia. ANZAN Annual Scientific Meeting 2022, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 10-13 May 2022. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/bmjno-2022-anzan.64
2022
Journal Article
Treatment satisfaction in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis initiated on teriflunomide in routine clinical practice: Australian observational data
Hardy, Todd A., Parratt, John, Beadnall, Heidi, Blum, Stefan, Macdonell, Richard, Beran, Roy G, Shuey, Neil, Lee, Andrew, Carroll, William, Shaw, Cameron, Worrell, Richard, Moody, Jana, Sedhom, Mamdouh, Barnett, Michael and Vucic, Steve (2022). Treatment satisfaction in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis initiated on teriflunomide in routine clinical practice: Australian observational data. BMJ Neurology Open, 4 (2) e000315, 1-9. doi: 10.1136/bmjno-2022-000315
2022
Journal Article
Analysing triggers for anti‐NMDA‐receptor encephalitis including herpes simplex virus encephalitis and ovarian teratoma: results from the Queensland autoimmune encephalitis cohort
Swayne, Andrew, Warren, Nicola, Prain, Kerri, Gillis, David, Wong, Richard and Blum, Stefan (2022). Analysing triggers for anti‐NMDA‐receptor encephalitis including herpes simplex virus encephalitis and ovarian teratoma: results from the Queensland autoimmune encephalitis cohort. Internal Medicine Journal, 52 (11), 1943-1949. doi: 10.1111/imj.15472
2022
Journal Article
Anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody screening in first-episode psychosis
Warren, Nicola, Freier, Karen, Siskind, Dan, O’Gorman, Cullen, Blum, Stefan, Gillis, David and Scott, James G (2022). Anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody screening in first-episode psychosis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 57 (4) ARTN 00048674221089560, 48674221089560-612. doi: 10.1177/00048674221089560
2022
Journal Article
Episodic foresight in multiple sclerosis
Manchery, Nithin, Henry, Julie D., Blum, Stefan, Swayne, Andrew, Beer, Reuben, Rendell, Peter G. and Nangle, Matthew R. (2022). Episodic foresight in multiple sclerosis. Neuropsychology, 36 (2), 140-149. doi: 10.1037/neu0000785
2021
Journal Article
Cognitive function and oral health in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis
Manchery, Nithin, Henry, Julie D., Swayne, Andrew, Beer, Reuben, Blum, Stefan and Nangle, Matthew R. (2021). Cognitive function and oral health in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis. Clinical Oral Investigations, 26 (3), 2899-2907. doi: 10.1007/s00784-021-04272-1
2021
Journal Article
MRI patterns distinguish AQP4 antibody positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder from multiple sclerosis
Clarke, Laura, Arnett, Simon, Bukhari, Wajih, Khalilidehkordi, Elham, Jimenez Sanchez, Sofia, O'Gorman, Cullen, Sun, Jing, Prain, Kerri M., Woodhall, Mark, Silvestrini, Roger, Bundell, Christine S., Abernethy, David A., Bhuta, Sandeep, Blum, Stefan, Boggild, Mike, Boundy, Karyn, Brew, Bruce J., Brownlee, Wallace, Butzkueven, Helmut, Carroll, William M., Chen, Cella, Coulthard, Alan, Dale, Russell C., Das, Chandi, Fabis-Pedrini, Marzena J., Gillis, David, Hawke, Simon, Heard, Robert, Henderson, Andrew P. D. ... Broadley, Simon A. (2021). MRI patterns distinguish AQP4 antibody positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder from multiple sclerosis. Frontiers in Neurology, 12 722237, 722237. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.722237
2021
Journal Article
NMOSD and MS prevalence in the Indigenous populations of Australia and New Zealand
Bukhari, Wajih, Khalilidehkordi, Elham, Mason, Deborah F., Barnett, Michael H., Taylor, Bruce V., Fabis-Pedrini, Marzena, Kermode, Allan G., Subramanian, Sankar, Waters, Patrick, Broadley, Simon A., Bukhari, Wajih, Broadley, Simon A., Abernethy, David, Bhuta, Sandeep, Blum, Stefan, Boggild, Mike, Boundy, Karyn, Brew, Bruce J., Brilot, Fabienne, Brownlee, Wallace J., Bundell, Christine S., Butzkueven, Helmut, Carroll, William M., Chen, Celia, Clarke, Laura, Coulthard, Alan, Dale, Russell C., Das, Chandi, Dear, Keith ... Yiu, Eppie M. (2021). NMOSD and MS prevalence in the Indigenous populations of Australia and New Zealand. Journal of Neurology, 269 (2), 836-845. doi: 10.1007/s00415-021-10665-9
2021
Conference Publication
Case Series: Two Cases of First Presentation AQP4-IgG Antibody Positive Neuromyelitis Optica in Patients of Advanced Age as a Possible Paraneoplastic Phenomenon
Beer, Reuben, Shahid, Hassan, Brown, Helen and Blum, Stefan (2021). Case Series: Two Cases of First Presentation AQP4-IgG Antibody Positive Neuromyelitis Optica in Patients of Advanced Age as a Possible Paraneoplastic Phenomenon. AAN 73rd Annual Meeting, Online, 17-22 April 2021. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). doi: 10.1212/wnl.96.15_supplement.2975
2021
Journal Article
A case of Anti-LGi1 antibody positive autoimmune epilepsy following deep brain stimulator implantation for essential tremor
Beer, Reuben, Lehn, Alex and Blum, Stefan (2021). A case of Anti-LGi1 antibody positive autoimmune epilepsy following deep brain stimulator implantation for essential tremor. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 353 577503, 1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577503
2021
Journal Article
Sustained Clinical Improvement in a Subset of Patients With Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Epstein–Barr Virus-Specific T Cell Therapy
Ioannides, Zara A., Csurhes, Peter A., Douglas, Nanette L., Mackenroth, Gem, Swayne, Andrew, Thompson, Kate M., Hopkins, Tracey J., Green, Kerryn A., Blum, Stefan, Hooper, Kaye D., Wyssusek, Kerstin H., Coulthard, Alan and Pender, Michael P. (2021). Sustained Clinical Improvement in a Subset of Patients With Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Epstein–Barr Virus-Specific T Cell Therapy. Frontiers in Neurology, 12 652811, 652811. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.652811
2021
Journal Article
A case of IVIg responsive paraneoplastic SOX1 peripheral neuropathy in a male with breast carcinoma
Beer, Reuben, O'Gorman, Cullen, Horwood, Keith and Blum, Stefan (2021). A case of IVIg responsive paraneoplastic SOX1 peripheral neuropathy in a male with breast carcinoma. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 352 577492, 577492. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577492
2021
Journal Article
An Australian state-based cohort study of autoimmune encephalitis cases detailing clinical presentation, investigation results, and response to therapy
Swayne, Andrew, Warren, Nicola, Prain, Kerri, Gillis, David, O'Gorman, Cullen, Tsang, Benjamin K-T., Muller, Claire, Broadley, Simon, Adam, Robert J., McCombe, Pamela, Wong, Richard C. and Blum, Stefan (2021). An Australian state-based cohort study of autoimmune encephalitis cases detailing clinical presentation, investigation results, and response to therapy. Frontiers in Neurology, 12 607773, 607773. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.607773
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Stefan Blum is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Studies of myasthenia gravis using MGBase.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Pamela McCombe
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Doctor Philosophy
Utilising multimodal MRI to model disease activity before and after highly active disease modifying therapy in newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis.
Principal Advisor
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Multimodal evaluation of autoimmune encephalitis in Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Pamela McCombe
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Psychiatric clinical decision making in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Kisely, Professor Dan Siskind
Media
Enquiries
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