Research & Publications
Dr Mackintosh's research centres on interstitial lung disease, with a particular focus on the genetics of pulmonary fibrosis, telomere biology disorders and outcomes after lung transplantation.
Figures as at September 2026, per ORCID and institutional records.
Research focus
Telomere biology & short telomere syndrome
Genetics, telomere length assessment, and treatment trials in telomere-related pulmonary fibrosis and its implications for lung transplantation.
IPF & progressive pulmonary fibrosis
Diagnosis, prognostication using imaging and biomarkers, and antifibrotic treatment trials in IPF and PPF.
ILD genetics & familial disease
Genetic testing utility, family screening, and the Australasian ILD Genetics Multidisciplinary Meeting.
Lung transplantation outcomes
Outcomes of transplantation for fibrotic and telomere-related lung disease, and post-transplant complications.
Guidelines & consensus statements
- GUIDELINEMackintosh JA, Keir G, Troy LK, et al. Treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and progressive pulmonary fibrosis: A position statement from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand 2023 revision. Respirology. 2024;29(2):105-135.
- CONSENSUSCourtwright AM, Mackintosh JA, Alder JK, et al. ISHLT Consensus Statement on Short Telomere Syndrome and Lung Transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2026;45(2):e83-e103.
Clinical trials (Principal Investigator)
Dr Mackintosh actively recruits to clinical trials in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and progressive pulmonary fibrosis, and regularly serves as Principal Investigator for Phase 1–3 studies of novel antifibrotic and disease-modifying therapies. Current and upcoming trial opportunities can be found through PACT — the Pulmonary Fibrosis Australasian Clinical Trials Network. See ILD Clinical Trials for what taking part involves and how to find a trial in Queensland.
Dr Mackintosh sits on the Steering Committee of PACT, and is an affiliate of the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Pulmonary Fibrosis (CRE-PF).
Selected publications
Telomere biology & short telomere syndrome
- Lutzky VP, Rai SK, Tan ME, et al. Clinical Evaluation of Long-Read Sequencing for Telomere Length Assessment in Human Blood and Lung Tissues. Cells. 2026;15:1165.
- Borie R, Mageau A, Guérin C, et al. Premature hair graying in patients with pulmonary fibrosis and relatives is suggestive of pathogenic variants in telomere related genes. Eur Respir J. 2026:2600093.
- Mackintosh JA. Telomeropathy: Pre and Post Transplant Considerations for Clinicians. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2025;31(3).
- Mackintosh JA, Chambers DC. Telomere length and immunosuppression in non-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis interstitial lung disease. Eur Respir J. 2024;63(1):2301806.
- Mackintosh JA, Yerkovich ST, Tan ME, et al. Airway Telomere Length in Lung Transplant Recipients. Front Immunol. 2021;12:658062.
- Mackintosh JA, Pietsch M, Lutzky V, et al. TELO-SCOPE study: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial of danazol for short telomere related pulmonary fibrosis. BMJ Open Respir Res. 2021;8(1):e001127.
Idiopathic & progressive pulmonary fibrosis
- Richeldi L, Azuma A, Cottin V, et al (includes Mackintosh JA). Nerandomilast in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. N Engl J Med. 2025.
- Maher TM, Assassi S, Azuma A, et al (includes Mackintosh JA). Nerandomilast in Patients with Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis. N Engl J Med. 2025.
- Mackintosh JA, Walsh SLF, Silva M, et al. Likelihood of Usual Interstitial Pneumonia: A Novel Approach to Prognosis for Pulmonary Fibrosis. Respirology. 2026 (Editor's Choice, May 2026 issue).
- Nathan SD, Smith P, Deng C, et al (includes Mackintosh JA). Inhaled Treprostinil for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. N Engl J Med. 2025.
ILD genetics & familial disease
- Bajwa R, Mackintosh J. Clearing the haze around familial interstitial lung abnormalities. Thorax. 2026.
- Lucas SEM, Raspin K, Mackintosh J, et al. Preclinical interstitial lung disease in relatives of familial pulmonary fibrosis patients. Pulmonology. 2023;29(3):257-260.
- Kung SC, Dixon O, Kentwell S, et al. Telomere biology disorder presenting acutely with pulmonary fibrosis and hepatopulmonary syndrome in a young adult male. Respirol Case Rep. 2023;11(8):e01182.
Lung transplantation
- Chambers PDC, Westall G, Darley D, et al (includes Mackintosh JA). The ASSIST CLAD Study: A Phase 2 Randomized Controlled Trial of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for New-Onset Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2026.
- Mackintosh JA, Munsif M, Thomson C, et al. Risk of Anastomotic Dehiscence in Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis Transplanted whilst Receiving Anti-Fibrotics. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2019;38(5):553-559.