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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

101 - 120 of 139 works

2018

Conference Publication

Prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in potable water

Stockwell, R., Leong, L., Wood, M., Sherrard, L., Thomson, R., Rogers, G. and Bell, S. (2018). Prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in potable water. ANZSRS/TSANZ Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide, Australia, 23-27 March 2018. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell.

Prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in potable water

2017

Journal Article

Mycobacterium shimoidei, a rare pulmonary pathogen, Queensland, Australia

Baird, Timothy M., Carter, Robyn, Eather, Geoffrey and Thomson, Rachel (2017). Mycobacterium shimoidei, a rare pulmonary pathogen, Queensland, Australia. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 23 (11), 1919-1922. doi: 10.3201/eid2311.170999

Mycobacterium shimoidei, a rare pulmonary pathogen, Queensland, Australia

2017

Book Chapter

Mycobacteria other than TB

Thomson, Rachel (2017). Mycobacteria other than TB. Management of tuberculosis: a guide for clinicians. (pp. 160-170) edited by Justin Denholm, Alan Street and Emma McBride. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australasian Tuberculosis Program.

Mycobacteria other than TB

2017

Journal Article

Physical comorbidities of post-traumatic stress disorder in Australian Vietnam War veterans

McLeay, Sarah C., Harvey, Wendy M., Romaniuk, Madeline N. M., Crawford, Darrell H. G., Colquhoun, David M., Young, Ross McD., Dwyer, Miriam, Gibson, John M., O'Sullivan, Robyn A., Cooksley, Graham, Strakosch, Christopher R., Thomson, Rachel M., Voisey, Joanne and Lawford, Bruce R. (2017). Physical comorbidities of post-traumatic stress disorder in Australian Vietnam War veterans. Medical Journal of Australia, 206 (6), 251-257. doi: 10.5694/mja16.00935

Physical comorbidities of post-traumatic stress disorder in Australian Vietnam War veterans

2017

Journal Article

Notification of nontuberculous mycobacteria: an Australian perspective

Thomson, Rachel, Donnan, Ellen and Konstantinos, Anastasios (2017). Notification of nontuberculous mycobacteria: an Australian perspective. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 14 (3), 318-323. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201612-994OI

Notification of nontuberculous mycobacteria: an Australian perspective

2017

Journal Article

A haplotype spanning P2X7R, P2X4R and CAMKK2 may mark susceptibility to pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease

Halstrom, Samuel, Cherry, Catherine L., Black, Michael, Thomson, Rachel, Goullee, Hayley, Baltic, Svetlana, Allcock, Richard, Temple, Suzanna E. L. and Price, Patricia (2017). A haplotype spanning P2X7R, P2X4R and CAMKK2 may mark susceptibility to pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease. Immunogenetics, 69 (5), 1-7. doi: 10.1007/s00251-017-0972-z

A haplotype spanning P2X7R, P2X4R and CAMKK2 may mark susceptibility to pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease

2017

Conference Publication

The Australasian Bronchiectasis Registry - Early Steps In Mapping The Impact Of Bronchiectasis In Australia And New Zealand

Visser, S., Allan, H., Burr, L., Chang, A., Holmes-Liew, C. -L., Hunter, C., Jackson, D., King, P., Maguire, G., Middleton, P., Smith, D., Thomson, R., Waterer, G. W., Wong, C. and Morgan, L. (2017). The Australasian Bronchiectasis Registry - Early Steps In Mapping The Impact Of Bronchiectasis In Australia And New Zealand. International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Washington Dc, May 19-24, 2017. NEW YORK: AMER THORACIC SOC.

The Australasian Bronchiectasis Registry - Early Steps In Mapping The Impact Of Bronchiectasis In Australia And New Zealand

2017

Journal Article

Susceptibility to non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease is influenced by rs1518111 in IL10

Halstrom, Samuel, Thomson, Rachel, Goullee, Hayley, Baltic, Svetlana, Allcock, Richard, Temple, Suzanna E. L. and Price, Patricia (2017). Susceptibility to non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease is influenced by rs1518111 in IL10. Human Immunology, 78 (4), 391-393. doi: 10.1016/j.humimm.2017.02.001

Susceptibility to non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease is influenced by rs1518111 in IL10

2017

Conference Publication

The Australasian Bronchiectasis Registry - Early Steps in Mapping the Impact of Bronchiectasis in Australia and New Zealand

Visser, Simone, Allan, Heather, Burr, Lucy, Chang, Anne, Holmes-Liew, Chien-Li, Hunter, Cameron, Jackson, Dan, King, Paul, Maguire, Graeme, Middleton, Peter, Smith, Daniel, Thomson, Rachel, Waterer, Grant, Wong, Conroy and Morgan, Lucy (2017). The Australasian Bronchiectasis Registry - Early Steps in Mapping the Impact of Bronchiectasis in Australia and New Zealand. The Australia & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting, Canberra, Australia, 24–28 March 2017. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley.

The Australasian Bronchiectasis Registry - Early Steps in Mapping the Impact of Bronchiectasis in Australia and New Zealand

2016

Journal Article

Emergence and spread of a human-transmissible multidrug-resistant nontuberculous mycobacterium

Bryant, Josephine M., Grogono, Dorothy M., Rodriguez-Rincon, Daniela, Everall, Isobel, Brown, Karen P., Moreno, Pablo, Verma, Deepshikha, Hill, Emily, Drijkoningen, Judith, Gilligan, Peter, Esther, Charles R., Noone, Peadar G., Giddings, Olivia, Bell, Scott C., Thomson, Rachel, Wainwright, Claire E., Coulter, Chris, Pandey, Sushil, Wood, Michelle E., Stockwell, Rebecca E., Ramsay, Kay A., Sherrard, Laura J., Kidd, Timothy J., Jabbour, Nassib, Johnson, Graham R., Knibbs, Luke D., Morawska, Lidia, Sly, Peter D., Jones, Andrew ... Floto, R. Andres (2016). Emergence and spread of a human-transmissible multidrug-resistant nontuberculous mycobacterium. Science, 354 (6313), 751-757. doi: 10.1126/science.aaf8156

Emergence and spread of a human-transmissible multidrug-resistant nontuberculous mycobacterium

2016

Journal Article

Culture-independent detection of nontuberculous mycobacteria in clinical respiratory samples

Scoleri, Gianny P., Choo, Jocelyn M., Leong, Lex E. X., Goddard, Thomas R., Shephard, Lisa, Burr, Lucy D., Bastian, Ivan, Thomson, Rachel M. and Rogers, Geraint B. (2016). Culture-independent detection of nontuberculous mycobacteria in clinical respiratory samples. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 54 (9), 2395-2398. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01410-16

Culture-independent detection of nontuberculous mycobacteria in clinical respiratory samples

2016

Conference Publication

Immunopathogenesis of non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in cystic fibrosis patients

Lutzky, , Ratnatunga, C., Thomson, R., Smith, D., Reid, D., Bell, S. and Miles, J. (2016). Immunopathogenesis of non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in cystic fibrosis patients. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne Australia, Aug 21-26, 2016. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Immunopathogenesis of non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in cystic fibrosis patients

2016

Conference Publication

Multivariate immunoprofiling of individuals prone to non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection reveals T cell exhaustion and dysfunction

Ratnatunga, C. N., Lutzky, V. P., Halstrom, S., Price, P., Smith, D. J., Reid, D. W., Bell, S. C., Thomson, R. M. and Miles, J. J. (2016). Multivariate immunoprofiling of individuals prone to non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection reveals T cell exhaustion and dysfunction. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 21 - 26 August 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. doi: 10.1002/eji.201670200

Multivariate immunoprofiling of individuals prone to non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection reveals T cell exhaustion and dysfunction

2016

Journal Article

Safety of IV amikacin in the treatment of pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease

Ellender, Claire M., Law, Dayna B., Thomson, Rachel M. and Eather, Geoffrey W. (2016). Safety of IV amikacin in the treatment of pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease. Respirology, 21 (2), 357-362. doi: 10.1111/resp.12676

Safety of IV amikacin in the treatment of pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease

2016

Journal Article

Is pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease linked with a high burden of latent cytomegalovirus?

Amran, Fathiah S., Kim, Kyungchul, Lim, Andrew, Thomson, Rachel, Lee, Silvia, Waterer, Grant and Price, Patricia (2016). Is pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease linked with a high burden of latent cytomegalovirus?. Journal of Clinical Immunology, 36 (2), 113-116. doi: 10.1007/s10875-016-0233-1

Is pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease linked with a high burden of latent cytomegalovirus?

2015

Journal Article

Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease. Time to get a grip!

Thomson, Rachel, Donnan, Ellen and Unwin, Sean (2015). Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease. Time to get a grip!. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 12 (10), 1425-1427. doi: 10.1513/annalsats.201508-524ed

Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease. Time to get a grip!

2015

Journal Article

Review: environmental mycobacteria as a cause of human infection

Halstrom, Samuel, Price, Patricia and Thomson, Rachel (2015). Review: environmental mycobacteria as a cause of human infection. International Journal of Mycobacteriology, 4 (2), 81-91. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmyco.2015.03.002

Review: environmental mycobacteria as a cause of human infection

2015

Conference Publication

Validation of a non-tuberculous mycobacterial elisa in an australian cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis population

Cunningham, J., Thomson, R., Smith, D. and Bell, S. (2015). Validation of a non-tuberculous mycobacterial elisa in an australian cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis population. Thoracic Society Australia New Zealand Australian New Zealand Society Respiratory Science Annual Scientific Meeting 2015, Queensland, Australia, 27 March-1 April 2015. Richmond, VIC, Australia: John Wiley & Sons.

Validation of a non-tuberculous mycobacterial elisa in an australian cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis population

2015

Conference Publication

Validation of a nontuberculous mycobacterial Elisa in an Australian cystic fibrosis and non-systic fibrosis population

Cunningham, J., Smith, D. J., Bell, S. and Thomson, R. (2015). Validation of a nontuberculous mycobacterial Elisa in an Australian cystic fibrosis and non-systic fibrosis population. International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Denver, CO, United States, 15 - 20 May 2015. New York, NY, United States: American Thoracic Society.

Validation of a nontuberculous mycobacterial Elisa in an Australian cystic fibrosis and non-systic fibrosis population

2015

Conference Publication

Spatial variation in the composition of infective lung microbiota revealed by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of multisite bronchoalveolar lavage

Scoleri, G., Leong, L., Burr, L., Choo, J., Thomson, R., Serisier, D. and Rogers, G. (2015). Spatial variation in the composition of infective lung microbiota revealed by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of multisite bronchoalveolar lavage. Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand and the Australian & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science, Annual Scientific Meeting 2015, Gold Coast, Australia, 27 March – 1 April 2015. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/resp.12494_8

Spatial variation in the composition of infective lung microbiota revealed by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of multisite bronchoalveolar lavage

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

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

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