Associate 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.

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 46 peer-reviewed manuscripts that have had a total of 1,163 citations (IS Web of Knowledge 1996-2010). 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.

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 the Schools of Medicine, Medical Science and Molecular Biomedical Science at the University of Adelaide and The Basil Hetzel Institute (BHI) of Medical Research, Dept of Neurology, Acute Stroke Unit at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH).

Over the last 12 years the SRP has trained 20 PhD students, 18 Honours students 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

Arthur A, Koblar SA, Shi S, Gronthos S. Eph/ephrinB mediated mobilization of Dental Pulp Stem Cell in tooth repair (2010). Journal of Dental Research (Accepted for Publication).

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, 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

Barry C, Koblar SA, O'Carroll D (2007). Frontier Technologies for Brain Repair. Australasian Science 28(7): 16-18. [Feature article with Front cover illustration]

Stokowski A, Shi S, Barthold M, Gronthos S*, Koblar SA* (2007). EphB/ephrin-B interaction mediates adult stem cell attachment, spreading, and migration: Implications for dental tissue repair. Stem Cells 25 (1): 156-164. *Co-senior authorship

Vidovic M, Nighorn A, Koblar SA, Maleszka R (2007). Eph receptor and ephrin signalling in developing and adult brain of the honeybee (Apis mellifera). Develop Neurobiol 67: 233-251.

Professional Associations

Clinical Advisor, Centre for Stem Cell Research, Robinson Institute.

Member, Adelaide Neuroscience Research Centre, University of Adelaide

Patron of Stroke SA

Chairperson, Strategic Research Working Party, Basil Hetzel Institute of Medical Research, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Chair, Nervous System Review Group, University of Adelaide Medical School

Steering Committee Member, South Australian Neuroscience Institute

Member, Human Genetics Society of Australia (2001)

Management Committee Member, Adelaide Microarray Facility

Member, Australian Genetics Society (2000)

Member, SA Italian Medical Association

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)

Member, Australian Neuroscience Society

Member, Australian New Zealand Association of Neurology

Committee Member, Stroke Society of Australasia (2009- )

Advisory Board Member, National Stroke Foundation (2010- )

Member Editorial Board, International Journal Stroke

Fellow, Royal Australian College of Physicians

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

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

 

 

Expertise for Media Contact

Categories	Science and 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, 5 Feb 2012