Simon Koblar is a neurologist/stroke physician and neuroscientist. He is Director of the Stroke Research Programme (SRP), which is a collaboration between The Queen Elizabeth Hospital & University of Adelaide. As a Patron of Stroke SA, a community-based service for stroke victims, he is actively involved in stroke awareness and change.

He trained at the Royal Adelaide Hospital as a physician and followed up with neurology training at Guy’s Hospital in London. He undertook his PhD in neuroscience in stem cell biology at the Walter and Eliza Institute in Melbourne. In 1996-8 he worked in Seattle, USA in neurology and studied how the nervous system is wired-up. He returned to Adelaide, his hometown, in 1998 and has undertaken two leaves of study in 2005 in London and 2010 in Cambridge, UK.

Associate Professor Koblar maintains a clinical practice, teaches medical and science students, and trains physicians in neurology. The SRP is now numbered over 15 medical and science under- and postgraduate students and staff who are actively investigating the therapeutic potential of an adult human stem cell from the tooth, called Dental Pulp Stem Cell.

He is also Clinical Advisor to the Centre for Stem Cell Research, Robinson Institute at the University of Adelaide.

RiAus Involvement

Stem cell tourism – how far would you go? 23 November 2011