Dr Rintoul is Reader in Thoracic Oncology in the Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge and Honorary Respiratory Physician, Royal Papworth Hospital.  He qualified in medicine from the Universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh and trained in respiratory medicine in London and Edinburgh. Dr Rintoul received his doctorate from the University of Edinburgh for research investigating mechanisms underlying resistance to chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer.

He was appointed consultant in respiratory medicine specialising in thoracic oncology at Royal Papworth Hospital in 2005 before taking up his current post in 2017.  Dr Rintoul is lead clinician for cancer at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Director of the Papworth Trials Unit Collaboration.  He is currently co-lead for the Aerodigestive Programme of the Cambridge Cancer Centre and leads thoracic oncology research in Cambridge.