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Associate Professor Stefan Blum
Associate Professor

Stefan Blum

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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

Research interests

  • Neuronal cell surface antibodies in neurological and psychiatric disease

  • Social cognition in Multiple Sclerosis

  • 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

92 works between 2000 and 2025

21 - 40 of 92 works

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

Sustained Clinical Improvement in a Subset of Patients With Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Epstein–Barr Virus-Specific T Cell Therapy

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

An Australian state-based cohort study of autoimmune encephalitis cases detailing clinical presentation, investigation results, and response to therapy

2021

Journal Article

Voltage-gated potassium channel blanket testing in first-episode psychosis: diagnostic nihilism?

Chan, Fiona, O’Gorman, Cullen, Swayne, Andrew, Gillis, David, Blum, Stefan and Warren, Nicola (2021). Voltage-gated potassium channel blanket testing in first-episode psychosis: diagnostic nihilism?. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 55 (8), 4867420983454-823. doi: 10.1177/0004867420983454

Voltage-gated potassium channel blanket testing in first-episode psychosis: diagnostic nihilism?

2020

Journal Article

A missense mutation in the MLKL brace region promotes lethal neonatal inflammation and hematopoietic dysfunction

Hildebrand, Joanne M., Kauppi, Maria, Majewski, Ian J., Liu, Zikou, Cox, Allison J., Miyake, Sanae, Petrie, Emma J., Silk, Michael A., Li, Zhixiu, Tanzer, Maria C., Brumatti, Gabriela, Young, Samuel N., Hall, Cathrine, Garnish, Sarah E., Corbin, Jason, Stutz, Michael D., Di Rago, Ladina, Gangatirkar, Pradnya, Josefsson, Emma C., Rigbye, Kristin, Anderton, Holly, Rickard, James A., Tripaydonis, Anne, Sheridan, Julie, Scerri, Thomas S., Jackson, Victoria E., Czabotar, Peter E., Zhang, Jian-Guo, Varghese, Leila ... Silke, John (2020). A missense mutation in the MLKL brace region promotes lethal neonatal inflammation and hematopoietic dysfunction. Nature Communications, 11 (1) 3150, 3150. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-16819-z

A missense mutation in the MLKL brace region promotes lethal neonatal inflammation and hematopoietic dysfunction

2020

Journal Article

Epstein-Barr virus-specific T cell therapy for progressive multiple sclerosis

Pender, Michael P., Csurhes, Peter A., Smith, Corey, Douglas, Nanette L., Neller, Michelle A., Matthews, Katherine K., Beagley, Leone, Rehan, Sweera, Crooks, Pauline, Hopkins, Tracey J., Blum, Stefan, Green, Kerryn A., Ioannides, Zara A., Swayne, Andrew, Aftab, Blake T., Hooper, Kaye D., Burrows, Scott R., Thompson, Kate M., Coulthard, Alan and Khanna, Rajiv (2020). Epstein-Barr virus-specific T cell therapy for progressive multiple sclerosis. JCI insight, 5 (20) e144624. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.144624

Epstein-Barr virus-specific T cell therapy for progressive multiple sclerosis

2020

Journal Article

Overview of new developments in myasthenia gravis therapy

Beer, Reuben and Blum, Stefan (2020). Overview of new developments in myasthenia gravis therapy. Advances in Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, 19 (4), 28-30. doi: 10.47795/mqnw5770

Overview of new developments in myasthenia gravis therapy

2020

Journal Article

Placebo effect in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: The PATH study and a systematic review

Lewis, Richard A., Cornblath, David R., Hartung, Hans-Peter, Sobue, Gens, Lawo, John-Philip, Mielke, Orell, Durn, Billie L., Bril, Vera, Merkies, Ingemar S. J., Bassett, Paul, Cleasby, Alexa, van Schaik, Ivo N., Sabet, A., George, K., Roberts, L., Carne, R., Blum, S., Henderson, R., Van Damme, P., Demeestere, J., Larue, S., D’Amour, C., Kunc, P., Valis, M., Sussova, J., Kalous, T., Talab, R., Bednar, M., Toomsoo, T. ... PATH study group (2020). Placebo effect in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: The PATH study and a systematic review. Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System, 25 (3), 230-237. doi: 10.1111/jns.12402

Placebo effect in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: The PATH study and a systematic review

2020

Journal Article

Relapse patterns in NMOSD: evidence for earlier occurrence of optic neuritis and possible seasonal variation

Khalilidehkordi, Elham, Clarke, Laura, Arnett, Simon, Bukhari, Wajih, Jimenez Sanchez, Sofia, O'Gorman, Cullen, Sun, Jing, Prain, Kerri M., Woodhall, Mark, Silvestrini, Roger, Bundell, Christine S., Abernethy, David, Bhuta, Sandeep, Blum, Stefan, Boggild, Mike, Boundy, Karyn, Brew, Bruce J., Brown, Matthew, Brownlee, Wallace, Butzkueven, Helmut, Carroll, William M., Chen, Celia, Coulthard, Alan, Dale, Russell C., Das, Chandi, Fabis-Pedrini, Marzena J., Fulcher, David, Gillis, David, Hawke, Simon ... Broadley, Simon A. (2020). Relapse patterns in NMOSD: evidence for earlier occurrence of optic neuritis and possible seasonal variation. Frontiers in Neurology, 11 537, 537. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00537

Relapse patterns in NMOSD: evidence for earlier occurrence of optic neuritis and possible seasonal variation

2020

Journal Article

Screening for anti-NMDAR encephalitis in psychiatry

Warren, Nicola, Flavell, Joshua, O'Gorman, Cullen, Swayne, Andrew, Blum, Stefan, Kisely, Steve and Siskind, Dan (2020). Screening for anti-NMDAR encephalitis in psychiatry. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 125, 28-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.03.007

Screening for anti-NMDAR encephalitis in psychiatry

2020

Journal Article

Evaluation of the proposed anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor encephalitis clinical diagnostic criteria in psychiatric patients

Warren, Nicola, O’Gorman, Cullen, Blum, Stefan, Kisely, Steve, Swayne, Andrew, Flavell, Joshua and Siskind, Dan (2020). Evaluation of the proposed anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor encephalitis clinical diagnostic criteria in psychiatric patients. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 142 (1), 52-57. doi: 10.1111/acps.13197

Evaluation of the proposed anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor encephalitis clinical diagnostic criteria in psychiatric patients

2020

Conference Publication

Real world safety of Alemtuzumab in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis – Australian cohort study

Corbett, Joel, Blum, Stefan, Boggild, Mike, Broadley, Simon and McCombe, Pamela (2020). Real world safety of Alemtuzumab in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis – Australian cohort study. 2020 AAN Science Highlights, Online, 14 April 2020. Philadelphia, PA United States: Wolters Kluwer. doi: 10.1212/wnl.94.15_supplement.1499

Real world safety of Alemtuzumab in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis – Australian cohort study

2020

Conference Publication

Generalised Epileptiform Activity in Anti-Glycine Receptor Antibody Autoimmune Limbic Encephalitis

Beer, Reuben, Singh, Gaurav, Blum, Stefan and Sabet, Arman (2020). Generalised Epileptiform Activity in Anti-Glycine Receptor Antibody Autoimmune Limbic Encephalitis. 2020 AAN Science Highlights, Online, 14 April 2020. Philadelphia, PA United States: Wolters Kluwer. doi: 10.1212/wnl.94.15_supplement.2836

Generalised Epileptiform Activity in Anti-Glycine Receptor Antibody Autoimmune Limbic Encephalitis

2020

Conference Publication

Specific Psychiatric Features Identify Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis Before Neurological Deterioration (4888)

Warren, Nicola, O’Gorman, Cullen, Swayne, Andrew, Siskind, Dan and Blum, Stefan (2020). Specific Psychiatric Features Identify Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis Before Neurological Deterioration (4888). 2020 AAN Science Highlights, Online, 14 April 2020. Philadelphia, PA United States: Wolters Kluwer. doi: 10.1212/wnl.94.15_supplement.4888

Specific Psychiatric Features Identify Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis Before Neurological Deterioration (4888)

2020

Journal Article

The clinical profile of NMOSD in Australia and New Zealand

Bukhari, Wajih, Clarke, Laura, O’Gorman, Cullen, Khalilidehkordi, Elham, Arnett, Simon, Prain, Kerri M., Woodhall, Mark, Silvestrini, Roger, Bundell, Christine S., Ramanathan, Sudarshini, Abernethy, David, Bhuta, Sandeep, Blum, Stefan, Boggild, Mike, Boundy, Karyn, Brew, Bruce J., Brownlee, Wallace, Butzkueven, Helmut, Carroll, William M., Chen, Celia, Coulthard, Alan, Dale, Russell C., Das, Chandi, Dear, Keith, Fabis-Pedrini, Marzena J., Fulcher, David, Gillis, David, Hawke, Simon, Heard, Robert ... Broadley, Simon A. (2020). The clinical profile of NMOSD in Australia and New Zealand. Journal of Neurology, 267 (5), 1431-1443. doi: 10.1007/s00415-020-09716-4

The clinical profile of NMOSD in Australia and New Zealand

2019

Journal Article

Psychiatric management of anti-NMDAR encephalitis: a cohort analysis

Warren, Nicola, O'Gorman, Cullen, McKeon, Gemma, Swayne, Andrew, Blum, Stefan and Siskind, Dan (2019). Psychiatric management of anti-NMDAR encephalitis: a cohort analysis. Psychological Medicine, 51 (3) PII S0033291719003283, 1-6. doi: 10.1017/s0033291719003283

Psychiatric management of anti-NMDAR encephalitis: a cohort analysis

2019

Journal Article

Serum and CSF anti-NMDAR antibody testing in psychiatry

Warren, Nicola, Swayne, Andrew, Siskind, Dan, O'Gorman, Cullen, Prain, Kerri, Gillis, David and Blum, Stefan (2019). Serum and CSF anti-NMDAR antibody testing in psychiatry. The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences, 32 (2), appineuropsych19030079-160. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.19030079

Serum and CSF anti-NMDAR antibody testing in psychiatry

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

Long-term follow-up of patients with myasthenia gravis treated with low-dose rituximab

2019

Journal Article

Efficacy and safety of IVIG in CIDP: Combined data of the PRIMA and PATH studies

Merkies, Ingemar S.J., van Schaik, Ivo N., Léger, Jean-Marc, Bril, Vera, van Geloven, Nan, Hartung, Hans-Peter, Lewis, Richard A., Sobue, Gen, Lawo, John-Philip, Durn, Billie L., Cornblath, David R., De Bleecker, Jan L., Sommer, Claudia, Robberecht, Wim, Saarela, Mika, Kamienowski, Jerzy, Stelmasiak, Zbigniew, Tackenberg, Björn, Mielke, Orell, Sabet, A., George, K., Roberts, L., Carne, R., Blum, S., Henderson, R., Van Damme, P., Demeestere, J., Larue, S., D'Amour, C. ... Zwolińska, G. (2019). Efficacy and safety of IVIG in CIDP: Combined data of the PRIMA and PATH studies. Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System, 24 (1), 48-55. doi: 10.1111/jns.12302

Efficacy and safety of IVIG in CIDP: Combined data of the PRIMA and PATH studies

2019

Journal Article

Restabilization treatment after intravenous immunoglobulin withdrawal in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: Results from the pre-randomization phase of the Polyneuropathy And Treatment with Hizentra study

Mielke, Orell, Bril, Vera, Cornblath, David R., Lawo, John-Philip, van Geloven, Nan, Hartung, Hans-Peter, Lewis, Richard A., Merkies, Ingemar S.J., Sobue, Gen, Durn, Billie, Shebl, Amgad, van Schaik, Ivo N., Sabet, A., George, K., Roberts, L., Carne, R., Blum, S., Henderson, R., Van Damme, P., Demeestere, J., Larue, S., D'Amour, C., Kunc, P., Valis, M., Sussova, J., Kalous, T., Talab, R., Bednar, M., Toomsoo, T. ... Gable, K. (2019). Restabilization treatment after intravenous immunoglobulin withdrawal in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: Results from the pre-randomization phase of the Polyneuropathy And Treatment with Hizentra study. Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System, 24 (1), 72-79. doi: 10.1111/jns.12303

Restabilization treatment after intravenous immunoglobulin withdrawal in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: Results from the pre-randomization phase of the Polyneuropathy And Treatment with Hizentra study

2018

Journal Article

Epstein-Barr virus–specific T cell therapy for progressive multiple sclerosis

Pender, Michael P., Csurhes, Peter A., Smith, Corey, Douglas, Nanette L., Neller, Michelle A., Matthews, Katherine K., Beagley, Leone, Rehan, Sweera, Crooks, Pauline, Hopkins, Tracey J., Blum, Stefan, Green, Kerryn A., Ioannides, Zara A., Swayne, Andrew, Aftab, Blake T., Hooper, Kaye D., Burrows, Scott R., Thompson, Kate M., Coulthard, Alan and Khanna, Rajiv (2018). Epstein-Barr virus–specific T cell therapy for progressive multiple sclerosis. JCI Insight, 3 (22) e124714. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.124714

Epstein-Barr virus–specific T cell therapy for progressive multiple sclerosis

Funding

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2021
    Addressing the oral health needs of people with multiple sclerosis
    Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Social cognition, psychiatric comorbidities and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis
    Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Identifying and treating patients with psychosis who are positive to anti-neuronal antibodies
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Stefan Blum is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Studies of myasthenia gravis using MGBase.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Pamela McCombe

  • 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

Media

Enquiries

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