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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

139 works between 1998 and 2025

61 - 80 of 139 works

2020

Journal Article

Influence of climate variables on the rising incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections in Queensland, Australia 2001–2016

Thomson, Rachel M., Furuya-Kanamori, Luis, Coffey, Cushla, Bell, Scott C., Knibbs, Luke D. and Lau, Colleen L. (2020). Influence of climate variables on the rising incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections in Queensland, Australia 2001–2016. Science of the Total Environment, 740 139796, 139796. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139796

Influence of climate variables on the rising incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections in Queensland, Australia 2001–2016

2020

Conference Publication

The educational needs of people with bronchiectasis in a pulmonary rehabilitation setting

Lee, Annemarie, Smith, Rebecca, Osadnik, Christian, Burr, Lucy, Chang, Anne, Holmes-Liew, Chien-Li, Jayaram, Lata, King, Paul, Middleton, Peter, Morgan, Lucy, Tu Nguyen, , Smith, Daniel, Stroil-Salama, Enna, Thomson, Rachel, Waring, Justin, Waterer, Grant, Wong, Conroy and Mcaleer, Rachel (2020). The educational needs of people with bronchiectasis in a pulmonary rehabilitation setting. ERS International Congress 2020, Online, 7–9 September 2020. Sheffield, United Kingdom: European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2020.76

The educational needs of people with bronchiectasis in a pulmonary rehabilitation setting

2020

Journal Article

The epidemiology of extrapulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in a pediatric population

Aliano, Danielle and Thomson, Rachel (2020). The epidemiology of extrapulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in a pediatric population. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 39 (8), 671-677. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002658

The epidemiology of extrapulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in a pediatric population

2020

Conference Publication

Alternative transmission pathways of mycobacterium abscessus group (MABs) respiratory infections

Stockwell, R., Leong, L., Wheeler, N., Bryant, J., Wood, M., Sherrard, L., Thomson, R., Carter, R., Tolson, C., Rogers, G., Wainwright, C., Parkhill, J., Floto, R. and Bell, S. (2020). Alternative transmission pathways of mycobacterium abscessus group (MABs) respiratory infections. TSANZSRS 2020 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, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 27–31 March 2020. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell.

Alternative transmission pathways of mycobacterium abscessus group (MABs) respiratory infections

2020

Conference Publication

Utility of bronchoalveolar lavage (bal) galactomannan assay in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillus infection in immunocompetent patients

Kafili, D., Kajbafzadeh, M. and Thomson, R. (2020). Utility of bronchoalveolar lavage (bal) galactomannan assay in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillus infection in immunocompetent patients. TSANZSRS 2020 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, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 27-31 March 2020. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia.

Utility of bronchoalveolar lavage (bal) galactomannan assay in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillus infection in immunocompetent patients

2020

Journal Article

Factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Australian Vietnam Veterans: Confirmatory factor analysis of the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM–5

Gilmour, John, Romaniuk, Madeline, on behalf of the PTSD Initiative , McLeay, Sarah, Harvey, Wendy, 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 (2020). Factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Australian Vietnam Veterans: Confirmatory factor analysis of the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM–5. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 6 (1), 48-57. doi: 10.3138/jmvfh-2018-0042

Factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Australian Vietnam Veterans: Confirmatory factor analysis of the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM–5

2020

Journal Article

NLRP3 is associated with coronary artery disease in Vietnam veterans

Akosile, Wole, Voisey, Joanne, Lawford, Bruce, Colquhoun, David, Young, Ross McD, Mehta, Divya, on behalf of the PTSD Initiative, McLeay, Sarah, Harvey, Wendy, Romaniuk, Madeline, Dwyer, Miriam, Gibson, John, O'Sullivan, Robyn, Cooksley, Graham, Strakosch, Christopher and Thomson, Rachel (2020). NLRP3 is associated with coronary artery disease in Vietnam veterans. Gene, 725 144163, 144163. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.144163

NLRP3 is associated with coronary artery disease in Vietnam veterans

2020

Journal Article

The rise of non-tuberculosis mycobacterial lung disease

Ratnatunga, Champa N., Lutzky, Viviana P., Kupz, Andreas, Doolan, Denise L., Reid, David W., Field, Matthew, Bell, Scott C., Thomson, Rachel M. and Miles, John J. (2020). The rise of non-tuberculosis mycobacterial lung disease. Frontiers in Immunology, 11 303, 303. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00303

The rise of non-tuberculosis mycobacterial lung disease

2020

Conference Publication

The distinctive body composition and endocrine profile of women with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease

Holt, M., Inder, W., Miles, J. and Thomson, R. (2020). The distinctive body composition and endocrine profile of women with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease. International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society, Electr Network, 2020. New York, NY USA: American Thoracic Society. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2020.201.1_meetingabstracts.a4354

The distinctive body composition and endocrine profile of women with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease

2019

Journal Article

Management of Australian adults with bronchiectasis in tertiary care: evidence-based or access-driven?

Visser, Simone K., Bye, Peter T. P., Fox, Greg J., Burr, Lucy D., Chang, Anne B., Holmes-Liew, Chien-Li, King, Paul, Middleton, Peter G., Maguire, Graeme P., Smith, Daniel, Thomson, Rachel M., Stroil-Salama, Enna, Britton, Warwick J. and Morgan, Lucy C. (2019). Management of Australian adults with bronchiectasis in tertiary care: evidence-based or access-driven?. Lung, 197 (6), 803-810. doi: 10.1007/s00408-019-00280-x

Management of Australian adults with bronchiectasis in tertiary care: evidence-based or access-driven?

2019

Journal Article

Nontuberculosis mycobacteria infections: would there be pharmacodynamics without pharmacokinetics?

Kwak, Nakwon, Dalcolmo, Margareth Pretti, Daley, Charles L., Eather, Geoffrey, Hasegawa, Naoki, Koh, Won-Jung, Thomson, Rachel, van Ingen, Jakko and Yim, Jae-Joon (2019). Nontuberculosis mycobacteria infections: would there be pharmacodynamics without pharmacokinetics?. The European Respiratory Journal, 54 (5) 1901508, 1901806. doi: 10.1183/13993003.01806-2019

Nontuberculosis mycobacteria infections: would there be pharmacodynamics without pharmacokinetics?

2019

Journal Article

The clinical significance of Mycobacterium triplex

Gibson, Justine, Baird, Tim, Pandey, Sushil, Tolson, Carla, Coulter, Chris, Eather, Geoffrey and Thomson, Rachel (2019). The clinical significance of Mycobacterium triplex. Respiratory Medicine, 159 105808, 105808. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2019.105808

The clinical significance of Mycobacterium triplex

2019

Conference Publication

High incidence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria-positive cultures among children with cystic fibrosis in Australia

Duplancic, C., Thomson, R., Wainwright, C. and Bell, S. C. (2019). High incidence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria-positive cultures among children with cystic fibrosis in Australia. 33rd Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, Nashville, TN United States, 31 October – 2 November 2019. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons.

High incidence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria-positive cultures among children with cystic fibrosis in Australia

2019

Conference Publication

Mycobacterium abscessus point source outbreak in the local potable water supply affecting people with cystic fibrosis

Stockwell, R. E., Thomson, R., Leong, L. E., Wheeler, N. E., Bryant, J., Wood, M. E., Sherrard, L. J., Carter, R., Tolson, C., Rogers, G., Wainwright, C., Parkhill, J., Floto, R. A. and Bell, S. C. (2019). Mycobacterium abscessus point source outbreak in the local potable water supply affecting people with cystic fibrosis. Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, Nashville, TN, United States, 31 October - 2 November 2019. Hoboken, NJ, United States: John Wiley & Sons.

Mycobacterium abscessus point source outbreak in the local potable water supply affecting people with cystic fibrosis

2019

Journal Article

DNA methylation from germline cells in veterans with PTSD

Mehta, Divya, Pelzer, Elise S., Bruenig, Dagmar, Lawford, Bruce, McLeay, Sarah, Morris, Charles P., Gibson, John N., Young, Ross McD., Voisey, Joanne, Harvey, Wendy, Romaniuk, Madeline, Crawford, Darrell, Colquhoun, David, Dwyer, Miriam, Gibson, John, O'Sullivan, Robyn, Cooksley, Graham, Strakosch, Christopher and Thomson, Rachel (2019). DNA methylation from germline cells in veterans with PTSD. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 116, 42-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.06.001

DNA methylation from germline cells in veterans with PTSD

2019

Journal Article

Inhaled therapies for NTM disease – The way forward?

Thomson, Rachel (2019). Inhaled therapies for NTM disease – The way forward?. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 18 (5), 581-583. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2019.08.012

Inhaled therapies for NTM disease – The way forward?

2019

Journal Article

Australian adults with bronchiectasis: the first report from the Australian bronchiectasis registry

Visser, Simone K., Bye, Peter T.P., Fox, Greg J., Burr, Lucy D., Chang, Anne B., Holmes-Liew, Chien-Li, King, Paul, Middleton, Peter G., Maguire, Graeme P., Smith, Daniel, Thomson, Rachel M., Stroil-Salama, Enna, Britton, Warwick J. and Morgan, Lucy C. (2019). Australian adults with bronchiectasis: the first report from the Australian bronchiectasis registry. Respiratory Medicine, 155, 97-103. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2019.07.016

Australian adults with bronchiectasis: the first report from the Australian bronchiectasis registry

2019

Journal Article

Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary disease: individual patient data meta-analysis

Kwak, Nakwon, Dalcolmo, Margareth Pretti, Daley, Charles L., Eather, Geoffrey, Gayoso, Regina, Hasegawa, Naoki, Jhun, Byung Woo, Koh, Won-Jung, Namkoong, Ho, Park, Jimyung, Thomson, Rachel, Van Ingen, Jakko, Zweijpfenning, Sanne M.H. and Yim, Jae-Joon (2019). Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary disease: individual patient data meta-analysis. European Respiratory Journal, 54 (1) 1801991, 1801991. doi: 10.1183/13993003.01991-2018

Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary disease: individual patient data meta-analysis

2019

Journal Article

Multi-centre ethics and research governance review can impede non-interventional clinical research

Duplancic, Christine, Crough, Tania, Bell, Scott C., Australian NTM in CF Study Group and Thomson, Rachel (2019). Multi-centre ethics and research governance review can impede non-interventional clinical research. Internal Medicine Journal, 49 (6), 722-728. doi: 10.1111/imj.14158

Multi-centre ethics and research governance review can impede non-interventional clinical research

2019

Journal Article

Differential BDNF methylation in combat exposed veterans and the association with exercise

Voisey, Joanne, Lawford, Bruce, Bruenig, Dagmar, Harvey, Wendy, Morris, Charles P., Young, Ross McD, Mehta, Divya, on behalf of the PTSD Initiative and Thomson, Rachel (2019). Differential BDNF methylation in combat exposed veterans and the association with exercise. Gene, 698, 107-112. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.02.067

Differential BDNF methylation in combat exposed veterans and the association with exercise

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Combating pathogens from biofilms in premise plumbing systems
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2025
    Finding the Optimal Regimen for Mycobacterium Abscessus Treatment (FORMAT)
    Cystic Fibrosis Foundation USA
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2025
    Multi-drug resistant non-tuberculous mycobacteria infection research
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2024
    Eliminating opportunistic pathogens from premise plumbing biofilms in healthcare facilities
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 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
  • 2020 - 2023
    The emerging problem of non-tuberculous mycobacteria infection: Understanding aetiology, geospatial epidemiology and developing interventions
    NHMRC Project Grant
    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
  • 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

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

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

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Gut-Lung axis in Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease (NTM-PD)

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison, Professor Antje Blumenthal

  • 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections associated with climate change and major weather events: enhancing surveillance and mitigation strategies.

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics of Antimycobacterial Drugs in People with Cystic Fibrosis and Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Infection

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Scott Bell, Professor Jason Roberts

  • Doctor Philosophy

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

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Scott Bell

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