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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Conference Publication
HOME-BASED TREATMENT OF NONTUBERCULOUS MYCOBACTERIA PULMONARY DISEASE VIA A NOVEL NITRIC OXIDE GENERATOR AND DELIVERY SYSTEM
Thomson, Rachel M., Morgan, Lucy C., Burke, Andrew, Colin, Andrew A. and Tal, Asher (2022). HOME-BASED TREATMENT OF NONTUBERCULOUS MYCOBACTERIA PULMONARY DISEASE VIA A NOVEL NITRIC OXIDE GENERATOR AND DELIVERY SYSTEM. Annual Meeting of the American-College-of-Chest-Physicians (CHEST), Nashville Tn, Oct 16-19, 2022. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.08.361
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
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
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
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
2021
Conference Publication
Use of inhaled GM-CSF in treatment-refractory NTM infection. An open-label, exploratory clinical trial
Thomson, Rachel M., Waterer, Grant, Loebinger, Michael R. and Ganslandt, Cecilia (2021). Use of inhaled GM-CSF in treatment-refractory NTM infection. An open-label, exploratory clinical trial. European-Respiratory-Society (ERS) International Congress, Thessaloniki Greece, Sep 26-30, 2021. SHEFFIELD: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.OA1603
2021
Journal Article
Amikacin liposome inhalation suspension for refractory Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease: sustainability and durability of culture conversion and safety of long-term exposure
Griffith, David E., Thomson, Rachel, Flume, Patrick A., Aksamit, Timothy R., Field, Stephen K., Addrizzo-Harris, Doreen J., Morimoto, Kozo, Hoefsloot, Wouter, Mange, Kevin C., Yuen, Dayton W., Ciesielska, Monika, Wallace, Richard J., van Ingen, Jakko, Brown-Elliott, Barbara A., Coulter, Chris and Winthrop, Kevin L. (2021). Amikacin liposome inhalation suspension for refractory Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease: sustainability and durability of culture conversion and safety of long-term exposure. Chest, 160 (3), 831-842. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.03.070
2021
Journal Article
Gene expression analysis in three posttraumatic stress disorder cohorts implicates inflammation and innate immunity pathways and uncovers shared genetic risk with major depressive disorder
Garrett, Melanie E., Qin, Xue Jun, Mehta, Divya, Dennis, Michelle F., Marx, Christine E., Grant, Gerald A., Stein, Murray B., Kimbrel, Nathan A., Beckham, Jean C., Hauser, Michael A., Ashley-Koch, Allison E., Brancu, Mira, Calhoun, Patrick S., Dedert, Eric, Elbogen, Eric B., Fairbank, John A., Hurley, Robin A., Kilts, Jason D., Kirby, Angela, Martindale, Sara, McDonald, Scott D., Moore, Scott D., Morey, Rajendra A., Naylor, Jennifer C., Rowland, Jared, Shura, Robert, Swinkels, Cindy, Szabo, Steven T., Taber, Katherine H. ... Lawford, Bruce (2021). Gene expression analysis in three posttraumatic stress disorder cohorts implicates inflammation and innate immunity pathways and uncovers shared genetic risk with major depressive disorder. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 15 678548. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.678548
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
Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections associated with climate change and major weather events: enhancing surveillance and mitigation strategies.
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
Transmission dynamics of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis amongst immune suppressed patients exposed to an infectious case
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor John Upham, Professor Antje Blumenthal
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Doctor Philosophy
The Gut-Lung axis in Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease (NTM-PD)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison, 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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Doctor Philosophy
Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections associated with climate change and major weather events: enhancing surveillance and mitigation strategies.
Principal Advisor
-
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
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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