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
Fields of research
Research interests
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Pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease
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Genetic relatedness of mycobacterial strains
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Environmental ecology of mycobacteria
Works
Search Professor Rachel Thomson’s works on UQ eSpace
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
2023
Journal Article
‘Teach me how to look after myself’: what people with bronchiectasis want from education in a pulmonary rehabilitation setting
Lee, Annemarie L., Smith, Rebecca, Burr, Lucy, Chang, Anne B., Holmes‐Liew, Chien‐Li, King, Paul, Middleton, Peter, Morgan, Lucy, Smith, Daniel, Thomson, Rachel, Waterer, Grant, Wong, Conroy and McAleer, Rachael (2023). ‘Teach me how to look after myself’: what people with bronchiectasis want from education in a pulmonary rehabilitation setting. The Clinical Respiratory Journal, 17 (1), 59-69. doi: 10.1111/crj.13563
2022
Journal Article
Characterizing and correcting immune dysfunction in non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease
Ratnatunga, Champa N., Tungatt, Katie, Proietti, Carla, Halstrom, Sam, Holt, Michael R., Lutzky, Viviana P., Price, Patricia, Doolan, Denise L., Bell, Scott C., Field, Matt A., Kupz, Andreas, Thomson, Rachel M. and Miles, John J. (2022). Characterizing and correcting immune dysfunction in non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 1047781, 1-20. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1047781
2022
Journal Article
Quantifying the effectiveness of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light at inactivating airborne Mycobacterium abscessus
Nguyen, Thi Tham, He, Congrong, Carter, Robyn, Ballard, Emma L., Smith, Kim, Groth, Robert, Jaatinen, Esa, Kidd, Timothy J., Thomson, Rachel, Tay, George, Johnson, Graham R., Bell, Scott C. and Knibbs, Luke D. (2022). Quantifying the effectiveness of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light at inactivating airborne Mycobacterium abscessus. Journal of Hospital Infection, 132, 133-139. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2022.10.008
2022
Journal Article
Carriage and transmission of macrolide resistance genes in patients with chronic respiratory conditions and their close contacts
Wang, Yiming, Taylor, Steven L., Choo, Jocelyn M., Papanicolas, Lito E., Keating, Rebecca, Hindmarsh, Kate, Thomson, Rachel M., Morgan, Lucy, Rogers, Geraint B. and Burr, Lucy D. (2022). Carriage and transmission of macrolide resistance genes in patients with chronic respiratory conditions and their close contacts. Chest, 162 (1), 56-65. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.01.045
2022
Conference Publication
Whole genome analysis of mycobacterium abscessus (Mabs) from respiratory and non-respiratory infections within Queensland
Smith, K., Taylor, S., Rogers, G., Coulter, C., Pandey, S., Thomson, R. and Bell, S. (2022). Whole genome analysis of mycobacterium abscessus (Mabs) from respiratory and non-respiratory infections within Queensland. TSANZSRS 2022 The Australia & 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 & Respiratory Science, *, 31 March - 2 April 2022. Richmond, VIC, Australia: John Wiley & Sons.
2022
Conference Publication
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria in Australians with cystic fibrosis: a national survey
Duplancic, C., Wainwright, C., Thomson, R., Rogers, G., Clements, A., Floto, R. and Bell, S. (2022). Non-tuberculous mycobacteria in Australians with cystic fibrosis: a national survey. TSANZSRS 2022 The Australia & 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 & Respiratory Science, virtual, 31 March-2 April 2022. Richmond, VIC, Australia: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1111/resp.14216
2022
Journal Article
CD161 expression defines new human γδ T cell subsets
Karunathilaka, Amali, Halstrom, Samuel, Price, Patricia, Holt, Michael, Lutzky, Viviana P., Doolan, Denise L., Kupz, Andreas, Bell, Scott C., Thomson, Rachel M., Miles, John J. and Ratnatunga, Champa N. (2022). CD161 expression defines new human γδ T cell subsets. Immunity and Ageing, 19 (1) 11, 1-8. doi: 10.1186/s12979-022-00269-w
2021
Journal Article
Investigation of C reactive Protein and AIM2 Methylation as a marker for PTSD in Australian Vietnam veterans
McD Young, Ross, Lawford, Bruce, Mellor, Rebecca, Morris, Charles P, Voisey, Joanne, on behalf of the PTSD Initiative, McLeay, Sarah, Harvey, Wendy, Romaniuk, Madeline, Crawford, Darrell, Colquhoun, David, McD Young, Ross, Dwyer, Miriam, Gibson, John, O'Sullivan, Robyn, Cooksley, Graham, Strakosch, Christopher, Thomson, Rachel, Voisey, Joanne and Lawford, Bruce (2021). Investigation of C reactive Protein and AIM2 Methylation as a marker for PTSD in Australian Vietnam veterans. Gene, 803 145898, 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145898
2021
Journal Article
Factors associated with “Frequent Exacerbator” phenotype in children with bronchiectasis: the first report on children from the Australian Bronchiectasis Registry
Kapur, Nitin, Stroil-Salama, Enna, Morgan, Lucy, Yerkovich, Stephanie, Holmes-Liew, Chien-Li, King, Paul, Middleton, Peter, Maguire, Graeme, Smith, Daniel, Thomson, Rachel, McCallum, Gabrielle, Owens, Louisa and Chang, Anne B. (2021). Factors associated with “Frequent Exacerbator” phenotype in children with bronchiectasis: the first report on children from the Australian Bronchiectasis Registry. Respiratory Medicine, 188 106627, 106627. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2021.106627
2021
Journal Article
Dissemination of Mycobacterium abscessus via global transmission networks
Ruis, Christopher, Bryant, Josephine M., Bell, Scott C., Thomson, Rachel, Davidson, Rebecca M., Hasan, Nabeeh A., van Ingen, Jakko, Strong, Michael, Floto, R. Andres and Parkhill, Julian (2021). Dissemination of Mycobacterium abscessus via global transmission networks. Nature Microbiology, 6 (10), 1279-1288. doi: 10.1038/s41564-021-00963-3
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Rachel Thomson is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
The nature of the relationship between patient and environmental isolates of Mycobacterium intracellulare in Queensland.
Principal Advisor
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Master Philosophy
The gut-lung axis in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison, Professor Antje Blumenthal
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Doctor Philosophy
Risk and mitigation of cough aerosols for people with cystic fibrosis.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Scott Bell
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Doctor Philosophy
Pharmacokinetics of anti-mycobacterial drugs in patients with cystic fibrosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Scott Bell, Professor Jason Roberts
Completed supervision
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2017
Master Philosophy
Environmental transmission factors and host genetic polymorphisms influencing NTM infection in patients with no overt immunodeficiency
Principal Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Rachel Thomson directly for media enquiries about:
- Mycobacterial diseases
- mycobacterial infections
- Pulmonary Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections
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