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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Utilising multimodal MRI to model disease activity before and after highly active disease modifying therapy in newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis.
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Studies of myasthenia gravis using MGBase.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Pamela McCombe
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Master Philosophy
The interplay between Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and 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
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