Professor Simon Koblar

• Biography/ Background

  I am a Clinician-Scientist and my major area of interest is Stroke. I head the Stroke Research Programme (SRP) which is a collaboration between the University of Adelaide and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institution (SAHMRI).

  My major aims in Stroke research are:

  (1) Brain Repair

  (2) Molecular Pathology

  (3) Genetics

  (4) Prevention - Transient Ischaemic Attack.

   

  My scientific impact and contribution may be assessed by the fact that I have published 68 peer-reviewed manuscripts that have had a total of over 1,400 citations (IS Web of Knowledge 1996-2012); my 'h index' is 17.  I publish in a broad range of clinical and basic science journals. I have had continued funding from a broad range of local, national and international funding sources.
  

  In the last 10 years the SRP has made 3 significant discoveries that we aim to translate into clinical practice:

  (1) we discovered a brain-specific transcription factor, the NPAS4 / Nxf gene in 2004, that is expressed in the stroke brain and may have a protective role

  (2) we discovered the association between a variation in the Tissue Plasminogen Activator gene and risk for small-sized strokes (lacunar) in 2004

  (3) we discovered that adult human Dental Pulp Stem Cells have a neural potential that may aid in brain repair following stroke.

  In 2013 the SRP has more than 20 members and affiliates: 2 Senior Scientists, 3 early career Post-doctoral Fellows, 4 PhD students, 1 Masters, 1 Honours, 2 Research Assistant, and a range of Medical students, 1 Clinical Stroke Fellow and 5 Stroke Physicians/Neurologists (affiliates).
  

   

• Research Interests

  Stroke is by far the most common neurological disease and afflicts 60,000 Australians per annum. It is the second leading cause of death. A significant number of people are left with neurological disability and it remains the leading cause of adult disability in Australia.

  The Stroke Research Programme (SRP) is a collaborative between three Schools at the University of Adelaide (Medicine, Medical Science and Molecular Biomedical Science), The Basil Hetzel Institute (BHI) of Medical Research, Dept of Neurology, Acute Stroke Unit at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH) and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institution (SAHMRI).

  Over the last 15 years the SRP has trained 22 PhD students, 22 Honours students (18 with first-class honours) and four Neurologists with a clinical and/or scientific interest in Stroke medicine.

  Projects are being offered to students for honours, PhD and post-doctoral medical research.  Details may be obtained via the webpages of the SRP. 

  Stroke Research Programme Homepage:

  http://www.adelaide.edu.au/srp

   

• Publications

  Jardeleza C, Miljkovic D, Baker L, Boase S, Tan NC, Koblar SA, Zalewski P, Rischmueller M, Lester S, Drilling A, Jones D, Tan LW, Wormald PJ, Vreugde S (2013). Inflammasome gene expression alterations in Staphylococcus aureus biofilm-associated chronic rhinosinusitis. Rhinology 51(4):315-22.

  Sylvester J, Slee M, Gray J, Burnet S, Koblar S (2013). Muscle-specific kinase antibody positive myaesthenia gravis and multiple sclerosis co-presentation: A case report and literature review. J Neuroimmunology (in press)

  Leong WK, Lewis MD, Koblar SA (2013). Concise Review: Preclinical Studies on Human Cell-Based Therapy in Rodent Ischemic Stroke Models: Where Are We Now After a Decade? Stem Cells 31(6); 1040-3.

  Clancy P, Seto S-W, Koblar SA, Golledge J (2013). Role of the angiotensin converting enzyme 1/angiotensin II/angiotensin receptor 1 axis in interstitial collagenase expression in human carotid atheroma. Atherosclerosis 229(2); 331-337.

  Leong WK, Klaric TS, Lin Y, Lewis MD, Koblar SA (2013). Upregulation of the neuronal Per-Arnt-Sim domain protein 4 (Npas4) in the rat corticolimbic system following focal cerebral ischemia. Euro J. Neuroscience 37(11); 1875-1884.

  Arthur A, Panagopoulos R, Cooper L, Menicanin D, Parkinson I, Vandyke K, Zannettino A, Koblar SA, Sims N, Koichi M, Gronthos S (2013). EphB4 enhances the process of endochondral ossification and inhibits remodeling during bone fracture repair. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 28(4); 926-935.

  Benedict A, Khoo EW, Leung E, Hamilton-Bruce MA, Koblar SA (2013). Letter by Benedict et al Regarding Article, "What Causes Disability After Transient Ischemic Attack and Minor Stroke? Results From the CT and MRI in the Triage of TIA and Minor Cerebrovascular Events to Identify High-Risk Patients (CATCH) Study." Stroke 44(4); e32.

  Smith BJ, Caron KV, Brim MP, Labiszewski NA, Peters MJ, Fitridge R, Koblar SA, Jannes J, Veale AJ, Goldsworthy SJ, Litt J, Edwards D, Esterman AJ (2013). Smoking Termination Opportunity for inPatients (STOP): Superiority of a course of varenicline tartrate plus counselling over counselling alone for smoking cessation: A 12-month randomised controlled trial for inpatients. Thorax 68(5); 485-486.

  Lees JS, Sena ES, Egan KJ, Antonic A, Koblar SA, Howells DW, Macleod MR (2012). Stem cell-based therapy for experimental stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Stroke 7(7); 582-588.

  Holliday EG, Maguire JM, Evans T-J, Koblar SA, et al., (2012) Common variants at 6p21.1 are associated with large artery atherosclerotic stroke. Nature Genetics 44(10); 1147-1151.

  Leung ES, Hamilton-Bruce MA, Price C, Koblar SA (2012). Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) knowledge in general practice: a cross-sectional study of western Adelaide general practitioners. BMC Research Notes 5: 278.

  Moey AW, Koblar SA, Chryssidis S, Robinson M, Jannes J (2012). Endovascular therapy after stroke in a patient treated with dabigatran. Med J Aust 196(7); 469-471.

  Leong WK, Henshall TL, Arthur A, Kremer KL, Lewis MD, Helps SC, Field J, Hamilton-Bruce MA, Warming S, Manavis J, Vink R, Gronthos S, Koblar SA (2012). Human Adult Dental Pulp Stem Cells Enhance Post-Stroke Functional Recovery through Non-Neural Replacement Mechanisms. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 1(3); 177-187.

  Cheng YC, Anderson CD, Bione S, Keene K, Maguire JM, Nalls M, Rasheed A, Zeginigg M, Attia J, Baker R, Barlera S, Biffi A, Bookman E, Brott TG, Brown RD, Chen F, Chen W-M, Ciusani E, Cole JW, Cortellini L, Danesh J, Doheny K, Ferrucci L, Franzosi MG, Frossard P, Furie KL, Golledge J, Hankey GJ, Hernandez D, Holliday EG, Hsu F-C, Jannes J, Kamal A, Khan MS, Kittner SJ, Koblar SA, et al., (2012) Are myocardial infarction-associated SNPs associated with ischaemic stroke? Stroke 43(4); 980-986.

  Tran HB, Lewis MD, Tan LW, Lester SE, Baker LM, Hamilton-Bruce MA, Hill CL, Koblar SA, Rischmueller M, Ruffin EF, Wormald PJ, Zalewski PD, Lang CJ (2012). NLRP3 Inflammasomes in Normal Murine Airway Epithelium and Their Activation in a Murine Model of Allergic Airway Inflammation. J Allergy 2012 Article ID 819176, 13 pages.

  Cheng JN, Lee A, Jannes J, Heddle RJ, Koblar SA (2012). A case of Anaphylaxis Post Alteplase Infusion. J Clin Neurosci 19(2); 314-315.

  Leung ES, Hamilton-Bruce MA, Stocks N, Koblar SA (2011). Funny Turns. British Medical Journal 343; 7835.

  Phillips MC, Leyden JM, Chong WK, Kleinig T, Czapran P, Lee A, Koblar SA, Jannes J (2011). Young Ischemic Stroke in South Australia: More Obesity, Marijuana and Amphetamine Abuse. Med J Aust 195(10); 610-614.

  Milton AG, Aykanat VM, Hamilton-Bruce MA, Nezic M, Jannes J, Koblar SA (2011). Association of Phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) Gene and Cardioembolic Stroke in an Australian Cohort. Int J Stroke 6(6); 480-486.

  McLennan S, Lam A, Mathias J, Koblar SA, Hamilton-Bruce M, Jannes J (2011). Role of vasodilation in cognitive impairment. Int J Stroke 6(3); 280.

  Arthur A, Zannettino A, Panagopoulos R, Koblar SA, Sims NA, Stylianou C, Matsuo K, Gronthos S (2011). EphB/ephrin-B interactions mediate human MSC attachment, migration and osteochondral differentiation. Bone 48(3); 533-542.

  Leung ES, Hamilton-Bruce MA, Koblar SA (2011). Transient ischaemic attacks assessment and management - Reply. Australian Family Physician 40(1-2); 9.

  Golledge J, Clancy P, Maguire J, Lincz L, Koblar SA (2011). The role of Tenacin C in cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular Research 92(1); 19-28.

  Leung ES, Hamilton-Bruce MA, Koblar SA (2010). Transient ischaemic attacks assessment and management. Australian Family Physician 39(11): 820-824.

  Manning JA, Lewis MD, Koblar SA and Kumar S (2010). An essential function for the centrosomal protein NEDD1 in zebrafish development. Cell Death and Differentiation 17(8): 1302-14. Epub Feb 12 2010.

  Arthur A, Koblar SA, Shi S, Gronthos S. Eph/ephrinB mediated mobilization of Dental Pulp Stem Cell in tooth repair (2009). Journal of Dental Research 88(9): 829-834.

  Arthur A, Shi S, Zannettino AC, Fujii N, Gronthos*, S, Koblar SA* (2009). Implanted Adult Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells induce endogenous axon guidance. Stem Cells 27(9): 2229-37. Epub June 4 2009 *Co-senior authorship

  Price CJ, Blacker DJ, Grimley RS, Dewey HM, Gerraty RP, Koblar SA, Denisenko SM, Storey CE, Bladin CF, Hill KM (2009). National survey of management of transient ischaemic attack in Australia: Take Immediate Action. Medical J Australia 191(1): 17-20.

  Arthur A, Rychkov G, Shi S, Gronthos S*, Koblar SA* (2008). Adult Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells differentiate towards functionally active neurons under appropriate environmental cues. Stem Cells 26(7): 1787-95. Epub May 22 2008 *Co-senior authorship

  Lam A, Hamilton-Bruce MA, Jannes J, Koblar SA (2008). Cerebral small vessel disease: genetic risk assessment for prevention and treatment. Mol Diagn Ther 12(3); 145-156.

  Leung E, Koblar SA, Hamilton-Bruce A, Price CJ (2008). TIA assessment. Aust Fam Phys 37: 103-103.

  Manning JA, Colussi PA, Koblar SA, Kumar S (2008). Nedd1 expression as a marker of dynamic centrosomal localization during mouse embryonic development. Histochem Cell Biol 129(6): 751-764.

  Milton AG, Hamilton-Bruce MA, Koblar SA, Jannes J (2008). The ClC-KbT481S Chloride Channel Gene Polymorphism, Ischaemic Stroke and Hypertension. The Open Neuroscience Journal, 2: 6-8.

   

• Professional Associations

  Clinical Advisor, Centre for Stem Cell Research, Robinson Institute (2006- )

  Member, Adelaide Neuroscience Research Centre, University of Adelaide

  Advisor to the Peter Couche Foundation (2010- )

  Patron of Stroke SA (2008- )

  Chairperson, Strategic Research Working Party, Basil Hetzel Institute of Medical Research, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (2007-2011)

  Steering Committee Member, South Australian Neuroscience Institute (2005- )

  Member, Curriculum Committee for the Medical School, University of Adelaide (2011- )

  Member of the Neurosciences Grant Review Panel for Project Grants, National Health & Medical Research Council (2008-2012)

  Member, Human Genetics Society of Australia (2001)

  Management Committee Member, Adelaide Microarray Facility (2000- )

  Member, Australian Genetics Society (2000)

  Member, SA Italian Medical Association (1998- ); Committee member (2001-3) 

  President (2003), Treasurer (2000), and past Secretary (1998-99), Member, Cairn's Neurological Society of South Australia

  Member, Australian and New Zealand Society for Cell & Developmental Biology (1998)

  Foreign Society Member, Society for Neuroscience (USA) (1997- )

  Member, Australian Neuroscience Society (1992- )

  Member, Australian New Zealand Association of Neurology (1991- )

  Committee Member, Stroke Society of Australasia (2009- )

  Advisory Board Member, National Stroke Foundation (2010- )

  Member of the Clinical Council, National Stroke Foundation (2011- )

  Member Editorial Board, International Journal Stroke (2010- )

  Member Editorial Board, Stem Cell Research and Therapy (2013- )

  Fellow, Royal Australian College of Physicians (1991- )

  Chair, TIA Working Party, Dept of Health, South Australia (2010- )

  Steering Board Member, South Australian Stroke Network (2009- )

   

• Media Expertise

  Categories	Science & Technology
  Expertise	Neurobiology (axon guidance, neural tract development and regeneration); genetics of neurobiology ; neurophysiology; stem cell research; stem cells
  Notes	Alt phone: (08) 8303 5352

Entry last updated: Sunday, 3 Oct 2021