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Professor Rachel Thomson
Professor

Rachel Thomson

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 3847 8890
Phone: 
+61 7 334 60612

Overview

Background

Professor Rachel Thomson is a Head of the Greenslopes Clinical Unit, Thoracic Physician and clinical researcher working at Greenslopes Private Hospital.

She has an international reputation in the area of Pulmonary Nontuberculous mycobacterial disease. She has published widely in the area and is regularly invited to speak at international and national meetings.https://medical-school.uq.edu.au/research/ntm-research-group

Her current research focuses on immunological and environmental aspects of susceptibility to NTM infection, characteristics of the lung and gut microbiome in NTM, and improving treatment outcomes.

In a clinical capacity, Professor Thomson is able to offer patients expert management of their disease at Pulmedica, Greenslopes Private Hospital, at public clinics at The Prince Charles Hospital and the MetroSouth Clinical TB service of the Princess Alexandra Hospital and via telehealth for patients across Australia. Patients can also access novel treatments through clinical trials in both the private and public sector.

Prof Thomson also has a special interest in respiratory problems of the elite athlete. This includes asthma management, vocal cord dysfunction, and the requirements of national and international doping organisations for asthma medications.

Availability

Professor Rachel Thomson is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Research interests

  • Pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease

  • Genetic relatedness of mycobacterial strains

  • Environmental ecology of mycobacteria

Works

Search Professor Rachel Thomson’s works on UQ eSpace

115 works between 1998 and 2024

1 - 20 of 115 works

2024

Journal Article

Pediatric physiotherapy management of airway clearance therapy and exercise: Data from the Australian Bronchiectasis Registry

Webb, Elizabeth M., Holland, Anne E., Chang, Anne B., Middleton, Peter G., Thomson, Rachel, Wong, Conroy, Jayaram, Lata, Holmes‐Liew, Chien‐Li, Morgan, Lucy and Lee, Annemarie L. (2024). Pediatric physiotherapy management of airway clearance therapy and exercise: Data from the Australian Bronchiectasis Registry. Pediatric Pulmonology. doi: 10.1002/ppul.27370

Pediatric physiotherapy management of airway clearance therapy and exercise: Data from the Australian Bronchiectasis Registry

2024

Conference Publication

RCT Abstract - Inhaled colistimethate sodium in patients with bronchiectasis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection: Results of two randomized double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials assessing safety and efficacy over 12 months

Haworth, Charles, Shteinberg, Michal, Winthrop, Kevin, Barker, Alan, Blasi, Francesco, Dimakou, Katerina, Morgan, Lucy, O'Donnell, Anne, Ringhausen, Felix, Sibila, Oriol, Thomson, Rachel, Carroll, Kevin, Pontenani, Federica, Castellani, Paola and Chalmers, James (2024). RCT Abstract - Inhaled colistimethate sodium in patients with bronchiectasis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection: Results of two randomized double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials assessing safety and efficacy over 12 months. European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2024.rct5390

RCT Abstract - Inhaled colistimethate sodium in patients with bronchiectasis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection: Results of two randomized double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials assessing safety and efficacy over 12 months

2024

Journal Article

Inhaled colistimethate sodium in patients with bronchiectasis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection: results of PROMIS-I and PROMIS-II, two randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials assessing safety and efficacy over 12 months

Haworth, Charles S, Shteinberg, Michal, Winthrop, Kevin, Barker, Alan, Blasi, Francesco, Dimakou, Katerina, Morgan, Lucy C, O'Donnell, Anne E, Ringshausen, Felix C, Sibila, Oriol, Thomson, Rachel M, Carroll, Kevin J, Pontenani, Federica, Castellani, Paola and Chalmers, James D (2024). Inhaled colistimethate sodium in patients with bronchiectasis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection: results of PROMIS-I and PROMIS-II, two randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials assessing safety and efficacy over 12 months. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 12 (10), 787-798. doi: 10.1016/s2213-2600(24)00225-x

Inhaled colistimethate sodium in patients with bronchiectasis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection: results of PROMIS-I and PROMIS-II, two randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials assessing safety and efficacy over 12 months

2024

Journal Article

Current physiotherapy practice for adults with bronchiectasis: data from the Australian Bronchiectasis Registry

Webb, Elizabeth M., Holland, Anne E., Chang, Anne B., Burr, Lucy, Holmes-Liew, Chien-Li, King, Paul T., Middleton, Peter G., Morgan, Lucy, Thomson, Rachel M., Wong, Conroy and Lee, Annemarie L. (2024). Current physiotherapy practice for adults with bronchiectasis: data from the Australian Bronchiectasis Registry. Respiratory Medicine, 233 107777, 107777. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2024.107777

Current physiotherapy practice for adults with bronchiectasis: data from the Australian Bronchiectasis Registry

2024

Conference Publication

Developing a pharmacovigilance framework for an investigator-led, non-commercial platform trial – finding the optimal regimen for Mycobacterium abscessus treatment (FORMaT)

Hicks, D., Jong, T., Rice, M., Gailer, N., Joshi, S., Stevens, L., Lee, K., Thomson, R., Burke, A., Grimwood, K., Bell, S., Clark, J. and Wainwright, C.E. (2024). Developing a pharmacovigilance framework for an investigator-led, non-commercial platform trial – finding the optimal regimen for Mycobacterium abscessus treatment (FORMaT). 47th European Cystic Fibrosis Conference, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 5-8 June 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/s1569-1993(24)00244-3

Developing a pharmacovigilance framework for an investigator-led, non-commercial platform trial – finding the optimal regimen for Mycobacterium abscessus treatment (FORMaT)

2024

Conference Publication

Validation of the BACES Severity Scoring System in an Australian Cohort of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease (NTM-PD) Patients 

Mishiro, K., Ballard, E., Goh, F. and Thomson, R. (2024). Validation of the BACES Severity Scoring System in an Australian Cohort of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease (NTM-PD) Patients . American Thoracic Society International Conference 2024, San Diego, CA United States, 17-22 May 2024. New York, NY United States: American Thoracic Society. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2024.209.1_meetingabstracts.a3158

Validation of the BACES Severity Scoring System in an Australian Cohort of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease (NTM-PD) Patients 

2024

Journal Article

OPTIMA: an open-label, non-comparative pilot trial of inhaled molgramostim in pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection

Thomson, Rachel M., Loebinger, Michael R., Burke, Andrew J., Morgan, Lucy C., Waterer, Grant W. and Ganslandt, Cecilia (2024). OPTIMA: an open-label, non-comparative pilot trial of inhaled molgramostim in pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 21 (4), 568-576. doi: 10.1513/annalsats.202306-532oc

OPTIMA: an open-label, non-comparative pilot trial of inhaled molgramostim in pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection

2023

Journal Article

Extended water stagnation in buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic increases the risks posed by opportunistic pathogens

Huang, Casey K., Weerasekara, Anjani, Lu, Ji, Carter, Robyn, Weynberg, Karen D., Thomson, Rachel, Bell, Scott and Guo, Jianhua (2023). Extended water stagnation in buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic increases the risks posed by opportunistic pathogens. Water Research: X, 21 100201, 100201. doi: 10.1016/j.wroa.2023.100201

Extended water stagnation in buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic increases the risks posed by opportunistic pathogens

2023

Journal Article

Things They Are a Changing in the Field of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Kasperbauer, Shannon and Thomson, Rachel (2023). Things They Are a Changing in the Field of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria. Clinics in Chest Medicine, 44 (4), xiii-xiv. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2023.09.001

Things They Are a Changing in the Field of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

2023

Journal Article

In vitro susceptibility testing of imipenem- relebactam and tedizolid against 102 Mycobacterium abscessus isolates

Burke, Andrew, Carter, Robyn, Tolson, Carla, Congdon, Jacob, Duplancic, Christine, Bursle, Evan, Bell, Scott C., Roberts, Jason A. and Thomson, Rachel (2023). In vitro susceptibility testing of imipenem- relebactam and tedizolid against 102 Mycobacterium abscessus isolates. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 62 (4) 106938, 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.106938

In vitro susceptibility testing of imipenem- relebactam and tedizolid against 102 Mycobacterium abscessus isolates

2023

Journal Article

A systematic review of the clinical impact of small colony variants in patients with cystic fibrosis

Ryan, Harrigan, Ballard, Emma, Stockwell, Rebecca E., Duplancic, Christine, Thomson, Rachel M., Smith, Kimberley and Bell, Scott C. (2023). A systematic review of the clinical impact of small colony variants in patients with cystic fibrosis. BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 23 (1) 323, 1-10. doi: 10.1186/s12890-023-02611-4

A systematic review of the clinical impact of small colony variants in patients with cystic fibrosis

2023

Conference Publication

In vitro susceptibility testing of imipenem- relebactam and tedizolid against australian mycobacterium abscessus isolates

Burke, A. J., Carter, R., Tolson, C., Congdon, J., Duplancic, C., Bursle, E., Bell, S., Roberts, J. and Thomson, R. (2023). In vitro susceptibility testing of imipenem- relebactam and tedizolid against australian mycobacterium abscessus isolates. ATS 2023 International Conference, Washington, DC USA, 19-24 May 2023. Washington, DC USA: American Thoracic Society. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2023.207.1_meetingabstracts.a2968

In vitro susceptibility testing of imipenem- relebactam and tedizolid against australian mycobacterium abscessus isolates

2023

Conference Publication

Evolution of antimicrobial resistance in Mycobacterium abscessus isolated from drinking water

Patterson-Fahy, K., Carter, R., Guo, J. and Thomson, R. (2023). Evolution of antimicrobial resistance in Mycobacterium abscessus isolated from drinking water. International Conference of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2023, Washington, DC, United States, 19 - 24 May 2023. New York, NY, United States: American Thoracic Society. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2023.207.1_MeetingAbstracts.A2952

Evolution of antimicrobial resistance in Mycobacterium abscessus isolated from drinking water

2023

Conference Publication

A method for the isolation of environmental Mycobacterium species from soil and house dust

Carter, R. M., Huygens, F. and Thomson, R. (2023). A method for the isolation of environmental Mycobacterium species from soil and house dust. International Conference of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2023, Washington, DC, United States, 19 - 24 May 2023. New York, NY, United States: American Thoracic Society. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2023.207.1_MeetingAbstracts.A3594

A method for the isolation of environmental Mycobacterium species from soil and house dust

2023

Conference Publication

Mycobacterium abscessus: Acquisition and transmission pathways

Ramsay, K., Smith, K., Carter, R., Clayton, M., Burke, A., Wainwright, C., Thomson, R. and Bell, S. (2023). Mycobacterium abscessus: Acquisition and transmission pathways. TSANZSRS 2023 The Australia and New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting for Leaders in Lung Health and Respiratory Science, Christchurch, New Zealand, 25–28 March 2023. Richmond, VIC Australia: John Wiley and Sons. doi: 10.1111/resp.14459

Mycobacterium abscessus: Acquisition and transmission pathways

2023

Journal Article

Environmental risk of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection: strategies for advancing methodology

Mercaldo, Rachel A., Marshall, Julia E., Cangelosi, Gerard A., Donohue, Maura, Falkinham, Joseph O., Fierer, Noah, French, Joshua P., Gebert, Matthew J., Honda, Jennifer R., Lipner, Ettie M., Marras, Theodore K., Morimoto, Kozo, Salfinger, Max, Stout, Janet, Thomson, Rachel and Prevots, D. Rebecca (2023). Environmental risk of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection: strategies for advancing methodology. Tuberculosis, 139 102305, 102305. doi: 10.1016/j.tube.2023.102305

Environmental risk of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection: strategies for advancing methodology

2023

Conference Publication

Nontuberculous mycobacteria in Australians with cystic fibrosis: A national survey

Bell, S., Duplancic, C., Wainwright, C., Thomson, R., Rogers, G., Clements, A. and Floto, R. (2023). Nontuberculous mycobacteria in Australians with cystic fibrosis: A national survey. TSANZSRS 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting for Leaders in Lung Health & Respiratory Science, Christchurch, New Zealand, 25 - 28 March 2023. Richmond, VIC, Australia: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1111/resp.14459

Nontuberculous mycobacteria in Australians with cystic fibrosis: A national survey

2023

Conference Publication

Distribution and diversity of respiratory and non-respiratory Mycobacterium abscessus infections

Smith, K., Taylor, S., Zheng, L., Rogers, G., Coulter, C., Pandey, S., Thomson, R. and Bell, S. (2023). Distribution and diversity of respiratory and non-respiratory Mycobacterium abscessus infections. TSANZSRS 2023 The Australia and New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting for Leaders in Lung Health and Respiratory Science, Christchurch, New Zealand, 25–28 March 2023. Richmond, VIC Australia: John Wiley and Sons. doi: 10.1111/resp.14459

Distribution and diversity of respiratory and non-respiratory Mycobacterium abscessus infections

2023

Conference Publication

Validation of cromolyn sodium as a marker of aspiration

Riddles, T., Semple, K. and Thomson, R. (2023). Validation of cromolyn sodium as a marker of aspiration. TSANZSRS 2023 (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting for Leaders in Lung Health & Respiratory Science, Christchurch, New Zealand, 25 - 28 March 2023. Richmond, VIC, Australia: John Wiley & Sons.

Validation of cromolyn sodium as a marker of aspiration

2023

Journal Article

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Cystic Fibrosis in the Era of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator Modulators

Burke, Andrew, Thomson, Rachel M., Wainwright, Claire E. and Bell, Scott C. (2023). Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Cystic Fibrosis in the Era of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator Modulators. Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 44 (02), 287-296. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1759883

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Cystic Fibrosis in the Era of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator Modulators

Funding

Current funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    Diagnostic utility of tests of latent tuberculosis in immune compromised contacts exposed to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (2021 Metro South SERTA Novice Researcher Grant administered by MSHHS)
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2025
    Multi-drug resistant non-tuberculous mycobacteria infection research
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2024
    Respiratory Research
    Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2025
    A platform clinical trial approach to the management of Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABSC)
    NHMRC MRFF - Lifting Clinical Trials Registries Capacity
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2024
    Eliminating opportunistic pathogens from premise plumbing biofilms in healthcare facilities
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    The emerging problem of non-tuberculous mycobacteria infection: Understanding aetiology, geospatial epidemiology and developing interventions
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2024
    Finding the Optimal Regimen for Mycobacterium Abscessus Treatment (FORMAT)
    Cystic Fibrosis Foundation USA
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Long-term macrolide therapy; oropharyngeal dysbiosis and the spread of resistant pathogens (NHMRC Project Grant administered by Flinders University)
    Flinders University
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    The emerging problem of non-tuberculous mycobacteria infection: understanding aetiology, geospatial epidemiology and developing interventions (NHMRC Project led by QIMR Berghofer)
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Airborne transmission of microorganisms among persons with cystic fibrosis
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    A Cross Sectional Study to provide a detailed immunological and immunogenetic profile of subjects with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections (NTM)
    UQ Academic Title Holder Research Fund
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Rachel Thomson is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Transmission dynamics of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis amongst immune suppressed patients exposed to an infectious case

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Antje Blumenthal

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The nature of the relationship between patient and environmental isolates of Mycobacterium intracellulare in Queensland.

    Principal Advisor

  • Master Philosophy

    The gut-lung axis in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison, Professor Antje Blumenthal

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Risk and mitigation of cough aerosols for people with cystic fibrosis.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Scott Bell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Risk and mitigation of cough aerosols for people with cystic fibrosis.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Scott Bell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Pharmacokinetics of anti-mycobacterial drugs in patients with cystic fibrosis

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Scott Bell, Professor Jason Roberts

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Professor Rachel Thomson directly for media enquiries about:

  • Mycobacterial diseases
  • mycobacterial infections
  • Pulmonary Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au