Respiratory & Lung Transplant Physician, Brisbane

Dr John Mackintosh

MBBS(Hons), FRACP — Specialist Respiratory and Lung Transplant Physician

Dr Mackintosh is a Brisbane-based respiratory physician with a subspecialty focus on interstitial lung disease (ILD), including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), connective tissue disease-associated ILD, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, familial ILD and telomere biology disorders. He is a Respiratory & Lung Transplant Physician with the Queensland Lung Transplant Service at The Prince Charles Hospital, and Associate Professor at The University of Queensland.

Portrait of Dr John Mackintosh, Respiratory and Lung Transplant Physician, Brisbane

A subspecialist approach to fibrotic lung disease

Interstitial lung disease is uncommon, and covers a wide range of distinct diseases that can look similar yet behave very differently. Recognising the specific pattern reliably, and knowing when a presentation doesn't fit the expected picture, requires subspecialty expertise.

Dr Mackintosh leads a major public ILD service in Queensland, seeing the full range of conditions, including rare and atypical presentations. This depth of exposure underpins his approach to personalised diagnosis and management. His clinical and research contribution to the field was recognised with his academic promotion to Associate Professor at The University of Queensland.

His involvement in this field extends beyond his own clinic. He founded and chairs the Australasian ILD Genetics Multidisciplinary Meeting — the national forum for familial and genetically complex ILD cases — and co-chairs the Queensland Statewide ILD Multidisciplinary Meeting. Through these forums, he provides diagnosis and management advice to patients and clinicians across Queensland and Australia. He is also a Principal Investigator on a number of ILD clinical trials, keeping his practice up to date with the latest research.

Areas of clinical expertise

Assessment and ongoing management for the following conditions, for patients across Brisbane and Queensland.

Interstitial Lung Disease

Diagnosis and multidisciplinary management of ILD across its many subtypes.

Learn about ILD

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Diagnosis, antifibrotic treatment and clinical trial access for IPF.

Learn about IPF

Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis

Management of progressive fibrosing patterns arising in IPF or other fibrotic ILDs.

Learn about PPF

Connective Tissue Disease-ILD

Joint respiratory and rheumatology care for ILD associated with connective tissue disease.

Learn about CTD-ILD

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Identification of inhaled triggers and management of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Learn about HP

Asbestosis

Assessment and management of pulmonary fibrosis from occupational asbestos exposure.

Learn about asbestosis

Sarcoidosis

Assessment and management of pulmonary sarcoidosis, including complex and fibrotic disease.

Learn about sarcoidosis

Familial Interstitial Lung Disease

Assessment of pulmonary fibrosis occurring in families, including genetic evaluation and screening of at-risk relatives.

Learn about familial ILD

Telomere Biology Disorders

Diagnosis and management of short telomere syndromes presenting with pulmonary fibrosis, including pre- and post-transplant care.

Learn about telomere biology disorders

Genetics

Genetic evaluation and testing for pulmonary fibrosis and ILD, including counselling for patients and relatives.

Learn about genetics in ILD

Lung Transplantation

Assessment and pre/post-transplant management through the Queensland Lung Transplant Service.

Learn about lung transplantation

For referring clinicians

Dr Mackintosh accepts referrals from GPs, rheumatologists and other specialists for assessment and ongoing shared care of patients with suspected or confirmed interstitial lung disease.

Research & guidelines

Dr Mackintosh's research spans ILD genetics, telomere biology and lung transplantation outcomes, and he is first author of Australia and New Zealand's current treatment guidelines for IPF and PPF.