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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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