Dr Lauren Ha

Dr Lauren Ha

Research Associate
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. 

Dr Ha holds a prestigious 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 >10 peer-reviewed publications to date and has attracted >$1.8 mil in grant funding (>$600,000 as chief investigator). 

  • 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, 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, 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, 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

2024-2029 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

Publications

Ha, L., Wakefield, C.E., Fardell, J. et al. Parent perceptions of their child’s and their own physical activity after treatment for childhood cancer. Support Care Cancer (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07288-9  

Ha L, Wakefield C, Mizrahi D, Diaz C, Cohn R, Signorelli C, Yacef K, Simar D. A Digital Educational Intervention With Wearable Activity Trackers to Support Health Behaviors Among Childhood Cancer Survivors: Pilot Feasibility and Acceptability Study. JMIR Cancer (2022) https://cancer.jmir.org/2022/3/e38367 DOI: 10.2196/38367

Gereis J., Hetherington K., Ha L. et al. Parents’ understanding of genome and exome sequencing for pediatric health conditions: a systematic review. Eur J Hum Genet (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41431-022-01170-2

Clifford B, Koizumi S, Wewege MA, Leake H, Ha L, MacDonald E, Fairman CM, Hagstrom AD. The effect of resistance training on body composition in cancer survivors during treatment and throughout survivorship: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine (2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01542-6  

Ha L, Mizrahi D, Cohn RJ, Simar D, Wakefield CE, Signorelli S. Accuracy of perceived physical activity and fitness levels among childhood cancer survivors. Pediatric Blood & Cancer (2021) https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.29134

Ha L, Mizrahi D, Ness KK. Healthcare innovation to promote physical activity to childhood cancer survivors during Covid-19. JAMA Pediatrics (2020). doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.3003

Ha L, Wakefield CE, Mizrahi D, Cohn R, Simar D, Signorelli C. The use of activity trackers in interventions for childhood cancer patients and survivors: a systematic review. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology (2020) https://doi.org/10.1089/jayao.2020.0099

Mizrahi D, Wakefield CE, Simar D, Ha L, McBride J, Field P, Cohn R, Fardell, J. Barriers and enablers to physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness deficits among childhood cancer survivors. Pediatric Blood & Cancer (2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.28339

Mizrahi, D., Wakefield, C.E., Ha, L., Cohn, R.J., Simar, D. and Fardell, J.E., 2019. Satisfaction with an exercise physiology consultation after treatment for childhood cancer: An opportunity for healthy lifestyle education. Heart and Mind, 3(3), p.77. DOI:10.4103/hm.hm_47_19

 

Published Conference Abstracts

Ha L, Wakefield CE, Signorelli C, Diaz C, Mizrahi D, Johnston K, Drew D, Donoghoe M, Clerc G, Cohn RJ, Yacef K, Simar D. A digital health education program combined with activity trackers to engage childhood cancer survivors in physical activity: A pilot study. The Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group (ANZCHOG) July 2022.

McBride, J, Plush, L, Field, P, Ha, L, Simar, D, Cohn RJ, Mizrahi, D. Exercise Intolerance in Childhood Cancer Survivors. The Australia and New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science. Melbourne, Australia. 2020. 

Ha L, Mizrahi D, Fardell J, Wakefield CE, Cohn RJ, Simar D. Cardiovascular fitness and physical activity in childhood survivors of cancer, potential role for exercise physiology services. 2019

Ha L, Mizrahi D, Fardell J, Wakefield CE, Cohn RJ, Simar S. An investigation of cardiovascular fitness and acceptability of exercise physiology services in childhood cancer survivors. 2018