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
2026
Journal Article
Clinical criteria to guide anti-neuronal antibody testing for people with early and persistent psychosis attending mental health services
McKeon, Gemma, Baker, Andrea, Blum, Stefan, Gillis, David, Prain, Kerri, Greer, Judith M., Bruxner, George, Benros, Michael E., Hatherill, Sean, Suetani, Shuichi, Siskind, Dan, Murphy, Kate, Joshi, Hitesh, Curtis, Jackie, O’Donoghue, Brian, Macmillan, Iain, Malacova, Eva, Pelecanos, Anita, Waters, Patrick, Lennox, Belinda, Warren, Nicola and Scott, James G. (2026). Clinical criteria to guide anti-neuronal antibody testing for people with early and persistent psychosis attending mental health services. Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, 6 (1) 100612, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2025.100612
2025
Conference Publication
Isolated respiratory failure as the presenting symptom of muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) myasthenia gravis: case report
Elias, Sandra, Mclaughlin, Laurie and Blum, Stefan (2025). Isolated respiratory failure as the presenting symptom of muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) myasthenia gravis: case report. ANZAN Annual Scientific Meeting 2025, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 10-13 June 2025. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/bmjno-2025-anzan.38
2025
Journal Article
Subjective psychiatric symptoms in post-acute autoimmune encephalitis: findings from the Australian autoimmune encephalitis consortium
Ko, Katherine Y., Kazzi, Christina, Seery, Nabil, Griffith, Sarah, Wesselingh, Robb, Rushen, Tiffany, Tan, Tracie H., Ford, Hannah, Meade, Catherine, O'Shea, Marie F., McLaughlin, Laurie, Skinner, Genevieve, Forcadela, Mirasol, Halliday, Amy, Duncan, Andrew, Butler, Ernest G., Van Der Walt, Anneke, Kalincik, Tomas, D'Souza, Wendyl, Seneviratne, Udaya, Buzzard, Katherine, Macdonell, Richard, Ramanathan, Sudarshini, Blum, Stefan, Kulkarni, Jayashri, Reddel, Stephen W., Hardy, Todd A., Butzkueven, Helmut, O'Brien, Terence J. ... Monif, Mastura (2025). Subjective psychiatric symptoms in post-acute autoimmune encephalitis: findings from the Australian autoimmune encephalitis consortium. Journal of neurology, 272 (10) 665, 665. doi: 10.1007/s00415-025-13353-0
2025
Journal Article
Cladribine effects on emotional awareness and reasoning: The CLEAR study
Henry, Julie D., Coundouris, Sarah P, Gomes, Lauren, Adams, Alexandra, Manchery, Nithin and Blum, Stefan (2025). Cladribine effects on emotional awareness and reasoning: The CLEAR study. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 101 106566, 106566-101. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2025.106566
2025
Journal Article
The relationship between patient-reported quality of life and clinician-rated outcome scores in patients with autoimmune encephalitis: a study of the Australian Autoimmune Encephalitis Consortium
Kazzi, Christina, Seery, Nabil, Griffith, Sarah, Wesselingh, Robb, Rushen, Tiffany, Tan, Tracie H., Ko, Katherine Y., ter Horst, Liora, Skinner, Genevieve, McLaughlin, Laurie, Ford, Hannah, Meade, Catherine, O'Shea, Marie, Buzzard, Katherine, Forcadela, Mirasol, Duncan, Andrew, van der Walt, Anneke, D'Souza, Wendyl, Senvieratne, Udaya, Macdonell, Richard, Ramanathan, Sudarshini, Blum, Stefan, Reddel, Stephen W., Hardy, Todd A., Butzkueven, Helmut, O'Brien, Terence J., Alpitsis, Rubina, Malpas, Charles B. and Monif, Mastura (2025). The relationship between patient-reported quality of life and clinician-rated outcome scores in patients with autoimmune encephalitis: a study of the Australian Autoimmune Encephalitis Consortium. Quality of Life Research, 34 (12), 3635-3648. doi: 10.1007/s11136-025-04052-4
2025
Journal Article
Rituximab use for relapse prevention in Anti-NMDAR antibody-mediated encephalitis: a multicenter cohort study
Seery, Nabil, Wesselingh, Robb, Beech, Paul, McLaughlin, Laurie, Rushen, Tiffany, Halliday, Amy J., Ter Horst, Liora, Griffith, Sarah P., Forcadela, Mirasol, Tan, Tracie H., Kazzi, Christina, Nesbitt, Cassie, Broadley, James, Buzzard, Katherine, Duncan, Andrew, D'Souza, Wendyl J., Tran, Yang, Van Der Walt, Anneke, Skinner, Genevieve, Taylor, Bruce V., Swayne, Andrew, Brodtmann, Amy, Gillis, David, Butler, Ernest Gerard, Kalincik, Tomas, Seneviratne, Udaya K., Macdonell, Richard A., Blum, Stefan, Ramanathan, Sudarshini ... for the Australian Autoimmune Encephalitis Consortium (2025). Rituximab use for relapse prevention in Anti-NMDAR antibody-mediated encephalitis: a multicenter cohort study. Neurology Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation, 12 (4) e200395, 1-13. doi: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000200395
2025
Journal Article
Multimodal prognostication of autoimmune encephalitis: an Australian autoimmune encephalitis consortium study
Seery, Nabil, Wesselingh, Robb, Beech, Paul, Broadley, James, Griffith, Sarah, Rushen, Tiffany, Beharry, James, Tan, Caleb, Chiniforoush, Noushin, McLaughlin, Laurie, ter Horst, Liora, Forcadela, Mirasol, Tan, Tracie, Kazzi, Christina, Nesbitt, Cassie, Buzzard, Katherine, Duncan, Andrew, Halliday, Amy, D'Souza, Wendyl, Tran, Yang, van der Walt, Anneke, Skinner, Genevieve, Swayne, Andrew, Malpas, Charles B., Brodtmann, Amy, Gillis, David, Taylor, Bruce, Butler, Ernest G., Kalincik, Tomas ... Monif, Mastura (2025). Multimodal prognostication of autoimmune encephalitis: an Australian autoimmune encephalitis consortium study. Journal of Neurology, 272 (5) 361, 1-13. doi: 10.1007/s00415-025-13069-1
2025
Journal Article
Consensus recommendations on multiple sclerosis management in Australia and New Zealand: part 1
Shipley, Jessica, Beharry, James, Yeh, Wei, Seery, Nabil, Foong, Yi Chao, Ayton, Darshini, Siriratnam, Pakeeran, Tan, Tracie, Beadnall, Heidi, Barton, Joshua, Bridge, Francesca, Wesselingh, Robb, Taylor, Lisa, Rath, Louise, Haartsen, Jodi, Gadi, Mohammad, Nesbitt, Cassie, Zhong, Michael, Cushing, Victoria, McKay, Fiona, Morahan, Julia, Trewin, Benjamin Peter, Roos, Izanne, Marriott, Mark, Nguyen, Ai-Lan, Downey, Emma, Crosby, Joanne, Bosco, Julian, Taylor, Jennifer ... Monif, Mastura (2025). Consensus recommendations on multiple sclerosis management in Australia and New Zealand: part 1. Medical Journal of Australia, 222 (7), 356-364. doi: 10.5694/mja2.52578
2025
Journal Article
Consensus recommendations on multiple sclerosis management in Australia and New Zealand: part 2
Shipley, Jessica, Beharry, James, Yeh, Wei, Seery, Nabil, Foong, Yi Chao, Ayton, Darshini, Siriratnam, Pakeeran, Tan, Tracie, Beadnall, Heidi, Barton, Joshua, Bridge, Francesca, Wesselingh, Robb, Taylor, Lisa, Rath, Louise, Haartsen, Jodi, Gadi, Mohammad, Nesbitt, Cassie, Zhong, Michael, Cushing, Victoria, McKay, Fiona, Morahan, Julia, Trewin, Benjamin Peter, Roos, Izanne, Marriott, Mark, Nguyen, Ai-Lan, Downey, Emma, Crosby, Joanne, Bosco, Julian, Taylor, Jennifer ... Monif, Mastura (2025). Consensus recommendations on multiple sclerosis management in Australia and New Zealand: part 2. Medical Journal of Australia, 222 (7), 365-371. doi: 10.5694/mja2.52577
2025
Journal Article
MGBase: A Global, Observational Registry for Collaborative Research in Myasthenia Gravis
Buzzard, Katherine A., Van der Walt, Anneke, Butzkueven, Helmut, Zhang, Wen Wen, Barnett-Tapia, Carolina, Cutter, Gary, Heckmann, Jeannine M., Farr, Pamela, Tran, Carolyn, Sartori, Charlotte, Stupar, Dusko, More, Rein, Sim, Linda, Le, Alison, Tang, Qingxiao, Reddel, Stephen W., Blum, Stefan, Lovas, Gabvor, McCombe, Pamela, Chroni, Elisabeth, Cruse, Belinda, Alroughani, Raed, Tzartos, John, Gomex-Figueroa, Enrique, Boz, Cavit, Karelis, Guntis, Kermode, Allan and Crump, Nicholas (2025). MGBase: A Global, Observational Registry for Collaborative Research in Myasthenia Gravis. Muscle and Nerve, 72 (3) mus.28450, 424-432. doi: 10.1002/mus.28450
2024
Conference Publication
Same but different: a rare case of primary cerebral amyloidoma
Mclaughlin, Laurie, Lefever, Kristen and Blum, Stefan (2024). Same but different: a rare case of primary cerebral amyloidoma. ANZAN Annual Scientific Meeting 2024, Adelaide, SA Australia, 21-24 May 2024. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/bmjno-2024-anzan.132
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, 11 (9), 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) 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) 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
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Stefan Blum is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
The interplay between Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Multiple Sclerosis
Principal Advisor
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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
Other advisors: Dr Steffen Bollmann
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Doctor Philosophy
Studies of myasthenia gravis using MGBase.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Pamela McCombe
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
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