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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

41 - 60 of 92 works

2018

Journal Article

Refractory epilepsy secondary to anti-GAD encephalitis treated with DBS post SEEG evaluation: a novel case report based on stimulation findings

Gillinder, Lisa, Lehn, Alexander, Papacostas, Jason, Olson, Sarah, Blum, Stefan and Dionisio, Sasha (2018). Refractory epilepsy secondary to anti-GAD encephalitis treated with DBS post SEEG evaluation: a novel case report based on stimulation findings. Epileptic Disorders, 20 (5), 451-456. doi: 10.1684/epd.2018.0993

Refractory epilepsy secondary to anti-GAD encephalitis treated with DBS post SEEG evaluation: a novel case report based on stimulation findings

2018

Journal Article

A case of immune-mediated encephalitis related to daclizumab therapy

Devlin, Michael, Swayne, Andrew, Newman, Martin, O'Gorman, Cullen, Brown, Helen, Ong, Benjamin, Robertson, Thomas, Airey, Caroline and Blum, Stefan (2018). A case of immune-mediated encephalitis related to daclizumab therapy. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 25 (5), 750-753. doi: 10.1177/1352458518792403

A case of immune-mediated encephalitis related to daclizumab therapy

2018

Journal Article

Genome-wide association study in Guillain-Barré syndrome

Blum, Stefan, Ji, Ying, Pennisi, David, Li, Zhixiu, Leo, Paul, McCombe, Pamela and Brown, Matthew A. (2018). Genome-wide association study in Guillain-Barré syndrome. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 323, 109-114. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.07.016

Genome-wide association study in Guillain-Barré syndrome

2018

Journal Article

Testing for antibodies to N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor and other neuronal cell surface antigens in patients with early psychosis

Scott, James G., Gillis, David, Swayne, Andrew and Blum, Stefan (2018). Testing for antibodies to N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor and other neuronal cell surface antigens in patients with early psychosis. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 52 (8), 727-729. doi: 10.1177/0004867418782421

Testing for antibodies to N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor and other neuronal cell surface antigens in patients with early psychosis

2018

Journal Article

Anti-glycine receptor antibody related disease: a case series and literature review

Swayne, Andrew, Tjoa, Linda, Broadley, Simon, Dionisio, Sasha, Gillis, David, Jacobson, Leslie, Woodhall, Mark R, McNabb, Andrew, Schweitzer, Daniel, Tsang, Ben, Vincent, Angela, Irani, Sarosh R, Wong, Richard, Waters, Patrick and Blum, Stefan (2018). Anti-glycine receptor antibody related disease: a case series and literature review. European Journal of Neurology, 25 (10), 1290-1298. doi: 10.1111/ene.13721

Anti-glycine receptor antibody related disease: a case series and literature review

2018

Journal Article

Intravenous versus subcutaneous immunoglobulin – Authors' reply

van Schaik, Ivo N, Mielke, Orell, Sabet, Arman, George, Koshy, Roberts, Leslie, Carne, Ross, Blum, Stefan, Henderson, Robert, Van Damme, Philip, Demeestere, Jelle, Larue, Sandrine, Pinard D'Amour, Catherine-Andree, Bril, Vera, Breiner, Ari, Kunc, Pavel, Valis, Martin, Sussova, Jana, Kalous, Tomas, Talab, Radomir, Bednar, Michal, Toomsoo, Toomas, Rubanovits, Inna, Gross-Paju, Katrin, Sorro, Ulvi, Saarela, Mika, Auranen, Mari, Pouget, Jean, Attarian, Shahram, Le Masson, Gwendal ... Mielke, Orell (2018). Intravenous versus subcutaneous immunoglobulin – Authors' reply. The Lancet Neurology, 17 (5), 393-394. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30109-1

Intravenous versus subcutaneous immunoglobulin – Authors' reply

2018

Journal Article

The prevalence and treatment outcomes of antineuronal antibody-positive patients admitted with first episode of psychosis

Scott, James, G., Gillis, David, Ryan, Alex, E., Hargovan, Hethal, Gundarpi, Nagaraj, McKeon, Gemma, Hatherill, Sean, Newman, Martin P., Parry, Peter, Prain, Kerri, Patterson, Sue, Wong, Richard, C. W., Wilson, Robert, J. and Blum, Stefan (2018). The prevalence and treatment outcomes of antineuronal antibody-positive patients admitted with first episode of psychosis. BJ Psych Open, 4 (2), 69-74. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2018.8

The prevalence and treatment outcomes of antineuronal antibody-positive patients admitted with first episode of psychosis

2018

Conference Publication

A case of immune-mediated encephalitis related to daclizumab therapy

Devlin, M., Swayne, A., O'Gorman, C., Newman, M., Brown, H., Robertson, T., Airey, C. and Blum, S. (2018). A case of immune-mediated encephalitis related to daclizumab therapy. 34th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Berlin, Germany, 10-12 October 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.

A case of immune-mediated encephalitis related to daclizumab therapy

2018

Journal Article

Subcutaneous immunoglobulin for maintenance treatment in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (PATH): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial

van Schaik, Ivo N., Bril, Vera, van Geloven, Nan, Hartung, Hans-Peter, Lewis, Richard A., Sobue, Gen, Lawo, John-Philip, Praus, Michaela, Mielke, Orell, Durn, Billie L., Cornblath, David R., Merkies, Ingemar S. J., Sabet, A., George, K., Roberts, L., Carne, R., Blum, S., Henderson, R., Van Damme, P., Demeestere, J., Larue, S., D'Amour, C., Bril, V., Breiner, A., Kunc, P., Valis, M., Sussova, J., Kalous, T., Talab, R. ... on behalf of the PATH study group (2018). Subcutaneous immunoglobulin for maintenance treatment in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (PATH): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. The Lancet Neurology, 17 (1), 35-46. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(17)30378-2

Subcutaneous immunoglobulin for maintenance treatment in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (PATH): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial

2018

Conference Publication

Prevalence of anti-neuronal antibodies in patients admitted with first episode of psychosis and their clinical outcomes

Scott, James, Gillis, David, Ryan, Alex, Hargovan, Hethal and Blum, Stefan (2018). Prevalence of anti-neuronal antibodies in patients admitted with first episode of psychosis and their clinical outcomes. 6th Biennial Schizophrenia International Research Society Conference, Florence, Italy, Apr 04 - 08, 2018. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sby014.157

Prevalence of anti-neuronal antibodies in patients admitted with first episode of psychosis and their clinical outcomes

2018

Conference Publication

Prevalence of anti-neuronal antibodies in patients admitted with first episode of psychosis and their clinical outcomes

Scott, James, Gillis, David, Ryan, Alex, Hargovan, Hethal and Blum, Stefan (2018). Prevalence of anti-neuronal antibodies in patients admitted with first episode of psychosis and their clinical outcomes. 6th Biennial Conference of the Schizophrenia-International-Research-Society (SIRS), Florence, Italy, 04-08 April 2018. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sby014

Prevalence of anti-neuronal antibodies in patients admitted with first episode of psychosis and their clinical outcomes

2018

Conference Publication

Psychiatric presentations of autoimmune encephalitis

Warren, N., Swayne, A. and Blum, S. (2018). Psychiatric presentations of autoimmune encephalitis. RANZCP 2018 Congress, Auckland, New Zealand, 13 – 17 May 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.

Psychiatric presentations of autoimmune encephalitis

2018

Book Chapter

Autoimmune encephalitis: clinical features, pathophysiology, and management

Newman, Martin, Airey, Caroline, Blum, Stefan, Scott, James G., Wong, Richard C. and Gillis, David (2018). Autoimmune encephalitis: clinical features, pathophysiology, and management. Neuroinflammation. (pp. 193-216) edited by Alireza Minagar. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-811709-5.00010-7

Autoimmune encephalitis: clinical features, pathophysiology, and management

2017

Journal Article

Refractory chronic epilepsy associated with neuronal auto-antibodies: could perisylvian semiology be a clue?

Gillinder, Lisa, Tjoa, Linda, Mantzioris, Basil, Blum, Stefan and Dionisio, Sasha (2017). Refractory chronic epilepsy associated with neuronal auto-antibodies: could perisylvian semiology be a clue?. Epileptic Disorders, 19 (4), 439-449. doi: 10.1684/epd.2017.0946

Refractory chronic epilepsy associated with neuronal auto-antibodies: could perisylvian semiology be a clue?

2017

Journal Article

Legionella longbeachae pneumonia as a complication of alemtuzumab therapy

Boyle, S., Olive, G., Townell, N., Henderson, A., Bowler, S. and Blum, S. (2017). Legionella longbeachae pneumonia as a complication of alemtuzumab therapy. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 46, 67-69. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2017.08.051

Legionella longbeachae pneumonia as a complication of alemtuzumab therapy

2017

Journal Article

Incidence and prevalence of NMOSD in Australia and New Zealand

Bukhari, Wajih, Prain, Kerri M., Waters, Patrick, Woodhall, Mark, O'Gorman, Cullen M., Clarke, Laura, Silvestrini, Roger A., Bundell, Christine S., Abernethy, David, Bhuta, Sandeep, Blum, Stefan, Boggild, Mike, Boundy, Karyn, Brew, Bruce J., Brown, Matthew, Brownlee, Wallace J., 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, Henderson, Andrew P. D. ... Broadley, Simon A. (2017). Incidence and prevalence of NMOSD in Australia and New Zealand. Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 88 (8), 632-638. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2016-314839

Incidence and prevalence of NMOSD in Australia and New Zealand

2017

Journal Article

Cognitive outcomes following anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: a systematic review

McKeon, Gemma L., Robinson, Gail A., Ryan, Alexander E., Blum, Stefan, Gillis, David, Finke, Carsten and Scott, James G. (2017). Cognitive outcomes following anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: a systematic review. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 40 (3), 1-19. doi: 10.1080/13803395.2017.1329408

Cognitive outcomes following anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: a systematic review

2017

Journal Article

Atypical N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis and a hippocampal tumour

Warren, Nicola, Theodoros, Theo and Blum, Stefan (2017). Atypical N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis and a hippocampal tumour. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 51 (4), 414-415. doi: 10.1177/0004867416670017

Atypical N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis and a hippocampal tumour

2017

Conference Publication

The many faces of anti-glycine receptor related disease: a case series and literature review

Swayne, Andrew, Tjoa, Linda, Wong, Richard, Gillis, David, Schweitzer, Daniel, Tsang, Benjamin, McNabb, Andrew, Broadley, Simon and Blum, Stefan (2017). The many faces of anti-glycine receptor related disease: a case series and literature review. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-and-New-Zealand-Association-of-Neurologists (ANZAN), Gold Coast Australia, May 09-12, 2017. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-316074.15

The many faces of anti-glycine receptor related disease: a case series and literature review

2017

Conference Publication

A rare case of csf xanthochromia due to severe disc protrusion resulting in froin’s syndrome

Singh, Gaurav, Swayne, Andrew, Blum, Stefan, Lehn, Alex, Brown, Helen and O’Gorman, Cullen (2017). A rare case of csf xanthochromia due to severe disc protrusion resulting in froin’s syndrome. ANZAN 2017, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 9 - 12 May 2017. London, United Kingdom: BMJ. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-316074.74

A rare case of csf xanthochromia due to severe disc protrusion resulting in froin’s syndrome

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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