Dr Lauren Ha | UNSW Research

My Expertise

My expertise is in exercise oncology, particularly with childhood cancer survivors. I have a strong focus on improving physical activity and fitness levels in children and adolescents affected by cancer using digital health to engage this at-risk population. My focus also extends to understanding the needs and experiences of parents and families affected by childhood cancer, so that they can best support their child in health behaviours.

Keywords

Biography

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 Fellowship by The Kids' Cancer Project. She has led the design, implementation and evaluation of digital health education interventions for...view more

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 >10 peer-reviewed publications to date and has attracted >$2.8 mil in grant funding as Chief Investigator.

My Grants

2024-2027 Australian Government Cancer Support Grant

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

My Awards

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

My Research Activities

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