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Dr Lauren Ha

Dr Lauren Ha

Lecturer

BExPhys, PhD, ESSAM

Medicine & Health
School of Clinical Medicine

Dr Lauren Ha is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine. Her research focuses on the role of physical activity in improving health outcomes among young people diagnosed with cancer. She explores innovative digital technologies to improve access to physical activity education and support services, aiming to deliver more equitable, engaging, and person-centred care.

Dr Ha holds a Fellowship by The Kids' Cancer Project. She has led the design, implementation and evaluation of digital health education interventions for childhood cancer survivors, using co-design methodologies, and qualitative and quantitative research. Dr Ha has disseminated >18 peer-reviewed publications to date and has attracted >$2.8 mil in grant funding as Chief Investigator. 
E-mail
lauren.ha@unsw.edu.au
  • Journal articles | 2025
    Ha L; Nevin SM; Wakefield CE; Jacovou J; Mizrahi D; Signorelli C, 2025, 'Exploring childhood cancer survivor, parent, healthcare and community professionals’ experiences of, and priorities for, using digital health to engage in physical activity: a mixed methods study', Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 19, pp. 1403 - 1418, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11764-024-01560-z
    Journal articles | 2025
    Ha L; Signorelli C; Cohen J; Neville KA; Wakefield CE; Cohn RJ, 2025, 'Impact of a digital physical activity intervention on reducing sugar-sweetened beverage intake in young childhood cancer survivors: Epidemiology', British Journal of Cancer, 132, pp. 583 - 584, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41416-025-02965-y
    Journal articles | 2025
    Ha L; Signorelli C; McLoone JK; Wakefield CE; Alchin JE; Venkatesha V; Cohn RJ; Fardell JE, 2025, 'Risky, protective, and screening health behaviours among childhood cancer survivors: A cross-sectional survey in Australia and New Zealand', Journal of Cancer Survivorship, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11764-025-01858-6
    Journal articles | 2025
    Ha L; Wakefield CE; Jacovou J; Johnston K; Drew D; Donoghoe MW; Mizrahi D; Lourenco RDA; Cohn RJ; Taylor N; Signorelli C; Roughley K; Joyner C; Wright A, 2025, '‘Making Moves’: Protocol for a hybrid effectiveness-implementation pre-post trial of a co-designed online physical activity program for childhood cancer survivors', Jsams Plus, 5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsampl.2025.100099
    Journal articles | 2025
    Mizrahi D; Martiniuk A; Hibbert L; Govender D; Sibbald T; Mitchell R; Millard N; Ha L; Ragusa D; Brown K; Smith B, 2025, 'Implementing an online-delivered exercise program for childhood cancer survivors: A hybrid effectiveness-implementation protocol for the MERRIER study', Jsams Plus, 5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsampl.2025.100095
    Journal articles | 2025
    Sansom-Daly UM; McLoone JK; Fardell JE; Evans HE; McGill BC; Robertson EG; Signorelli C; Ellis S; Ha L; Hetherington K; Houweling RE; Nevin SM; Schilstra CE; Mitchell R; Haber M; Cohn RJ; Wakefield CE, 2025, 'Bridging the Gap: Embedding Psychosocial Oncology Research into Comprehensive Cancer Care for Children and Young People', Cancers, 17, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cancers17132123
    Journal articles | 2024
    Signorelli C; Høeg BL; Asuzu C; Centeno I; Estapé T; Fisher P; Lam W; Levkovich I; Manne S; Miles A; Mullen L; Nekhlyudov L; Sade C; Shaw J; Singleton A; Travado L; Tsuchiya M; Lemmen J; Li J; Jefford M; Altman S; Anang R; Barrera M; Basen-Engquist K; Bidstrup P; Bilodeau K; Christodoulidou S; Cirila A; Cohee A; Dégi LC; Dhillon H; Duijts S; Fisher P; Foster C; Fournier V; Gitonga I; Goswami S; Ha L; Hack T; Heathcote L; Howard F; Hulbert-Williams N; Jacobsen P; Kassianos A; Koczwara B; Lam W; Lasebikan V; Lebel S; Leslie M; Li J; Lim Høeg B; Liu X; Luigjes Y; Manne S; Martinez Tyson D; Mazariego C; Mirov Y; Nandakumar D; Larissa Nekhlyudo RN; Odiyo P; Ortolan P; Reshetova M; Ruble K; Smith B; Smrdel Š; Taylor C; Turner J; Veeraiah S; Wells E; Xu L; Zhang A, 2024, 'International Survey of Psychosocial Care for Cancer Survivors in Low-/Middle- and High-Income Countries: Current Practices, Barriers, and Facilitators to Care', JCO Global Oncology, 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/GO.23.00418
    Journal articles | 2023
    Ha L; Wakefield CE; Diaz C; Mizrahi D; Signorelli C; Yacef K; Simar D, 2023, 'Patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior in child and adolescent cancer survivors assessed using wrist accelerometry: A cluster analysis approach', Health Informatics Journal, 29, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/14604582231212525
    Journal articles | 2022
    Gereis J; Hetherington K; Ha L; Robertson EG; Ziegler DS; Barlow-Stewart K; Tucker KM; Marron JM; Wakefield CE, 2022, 'Parents’ understanding of genome and exome sequencing for pediatric health conditions: a systematic review', European Journal of Human Genetics, 30, pp. 1216 - 1225, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41431-022-01170-2
    Journal articles | 2022
    Ha L; Wakefield CE; Fardell J; Cohn RJ; Simar D; Signorelli C; Mizrahi D, 2022, 'Parent perceptions of their child’s and their own physical activity after treatment for childhood cancer', Supportive Care in Cancer, 30, pp. 8947 - 8957, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07288-9
    Journal articles | 2022
    Ha L; Wakefield CE; Mizrahi D; Diaz C; Cohn RJ; Signorelli C; Yacef K; Simar D, 2022, 'A Digital Educational Intervention With Wearable Activity Trackers to Support Health Behaviors Among Childhood Cancer Survivors: Pilot Feasibility and Acceptability Study', Jmir Cancer, 8, pp. e38367, http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/38367
    Journal articles | 2021
    Clifford B; Koizumi S; Wewege MA; Leake HB; Ha L; Macdonald E; Fairman CM; Hagstrom AD, 2021, 'The Effect of Resistance Training on Body Composition During and After Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis', Sports Medicine, 51, pp. 2527 - 2546, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01542-6
    Journal articles | 2021
    Ha L; Mizrahi D; Cohn RJ; Simar D; Wakefield CE; Signorelli C, 2021, 'Accuracy of perceived physical activity and fitness levels among childhood cancer survivors', Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 68, pp. e29134, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pbc.29134
    Journal articles | 2021
    Ha L; Mizrahi D; Wakefield CE; Cohn RJ; Simar D; Signorelli C, 2021, 'The Use of Activity Trackers in Interventions for Childhood Cancer Patients and Survivors: A Systematic Review', Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, 10, pp. 1 - 14, http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jayao.2020.0099
    Journal articles | 2021
    Hagstrom AD; Koizumi S; Wewege MA; Leake H; Ha L; Macdonald E; Fairman CM; Clifford B, 2021, 'Resistance Training And Body Composition In Cancer: A Systematic Review And Meta-analysis', Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 53, pp. 471 - 472, http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000764760.62212.e6
    Journal articles | 2020
    Ha L; Mizrahi D; Ness KK, 2020, 'A Decision-Making Algorithm for Children with Suspected Coronavirus Disease 2019', JAMA Pediatrics, 174, pp. 1220 - 1222, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.3003
    Journal articles | 2020
    Mizrahi D; Wakefield CE; Simar D; Ha L; McBride J; Field P; Cohn RJ; Fardell JE, 2020, 'Barriers and enablers to physical activity and aerobic fitness deficits among childhood cancer survivors', Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 67, pp. e28339, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pbc.28339
    Journal articles | 2019
    Mizrahi D; Wakefield CE; Ha LJ; Cohn R; Simar DE; Fardell J, 2019, 'Satisfaction with an exercise physiology consultation after treatment for childhood cancer: An opportunity for healthy lifestyle education', Heart and Mind, 3, pp. 77 - 106, http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/hm.hm_47_19
  • Conference Abstracts | 2021
    Ha L; Mizrahi D; Johnston K; Drew D; Diaz C; Cohn RJ; Yacef K; Signorelli C; Wakefield CE; Simar D, 2021, 'Improving physical activity levels among childhood cancer survivors: A digital educational program', in ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, WILEY, Vol. 17, pp. 13 - 13, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000693805000015&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Abstracts | 2021
    McBride J; Plush L; Field P; Ha L; Simar D; Cohn R; Mizrahi D, 2021, 'EVALUATION OF CARDIOPULMONARY DYSFUNCTION IN CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORS', in RESPIROLOGY, WILEY, Vol. 26, pp. 17 - 17, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000644657800031&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Abstracts | 2020
    McBride J; Plush L; Field P; Ha L; Simar D; Cohn R; Mizrahi D, 2020, 'AP 011: EXERCISE INTOLERANCE IN CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORS', in Respirology, Wiley, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, VIC, Australia, Vol. 25, presented at Conference: 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 Convention and Exhibition Centre, VIC, Australia, 27 March 2020 - 31 March 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/resp.13776

2024-2027 Cancer Patient Support Program, Department of Health and Aged Care

2024-2029 Danish Child Cancer Foundation

2023 Cancer Institute NSW Travel Grant

2022-2025 The Kids' Cancer Project Top-Up Grant

2022-2024 The Kids' Cancer Project Late Effects and Survivorship Fellowship

2022 Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship

2021 UNSW Faculty of Medicine and Health Support Scholarship

2021 - ARC Outstanding Student Award 2021, Top 10% 

2020 - 3 Minute Thesis UNSW Finalist Top 24

2020 - 3 Minute Thesis Faculty of Medicine, UNSW: 2nd Place and People's Choice 

2020 - 3 Minute Thesis School of Health Science, UNSW: 1st Place

Society Memberships & Professional Activities: 

  • Associate Editor, Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) Cancer
  • Invited Committee Member, Journal of Adolescent Health
  • Committee Member, Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA)
  • Committee Member, Australia New Zealand Children's Haematology/Oncology Group (ANZCHOG)
  • Committee Member, International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS)
  • Committee Member, The International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP)
  • Committee Member, Asia-Pacific Society for Physical Activity (ASPA)

 

 

My Research Supervision

ILP