About us
Meet the researchers behind the work.
We position our research using a Te Tiriti o Waitangi Framework, with the work co-led by Tangata Whenua, Associate Professor Lynne Russell and te Tāngata Tiriti, Associate Professor Mona Jeffreys.
The team comprises people with lived experience of Long COVID, several senior Māori researchers, clinicians involved in the provision of services for people with Long COVID, senior co-design experts, several health service researchers and a senior immunologist.
Co-principal investigators
Associate Professor Lynne Russell (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne, Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou)
Associate Professor Lynne Russell is a senior Māori health researcher in the Health Services Research Centre | Te Hikuwai Rangahau Hauora, within the Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Health (Te Wāhanga Tātai Hauora, Te Herenga Waka). Dr Russell has undertaken numerous kaupapa Māori research projects focussed on improving health and wellbeing outcomes for Tangata Whenua. Dr Russell has led two research projects relating to COVID-19: a Ministry of Health-funded study on the 'Impacts of COVID-19 in Aotearoa | Ngā Kawekawe o Mate Korona' and an NPoTM-funded project examining improvements in Māori wellbeing that occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Associate Professor Mona Jeffreys
Associate Professor Mona Jeffreys has significant experience in designing, leading and analysing epidemiological and health services research studies, both in the United Kingdom and Aotearoa New Zealand. She has successfully co-led the 'Impacts of COVID-19 in Aotearoa | Ngā Kawekawe o Mate Korona' study. Assoc Prof Jeffreys also has lived experience of ME/CFS and is developing a programme of research that includes both Long COVID and ME/CFS. In recent months, Assoc Prof Jeffreys has become one of the leading authorities on the epidemiology of Long COVID in Aotearoa.
Tāngata whenua researchers
Dr Lis Ellison-Loschmann (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Raukawa, Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira)
Dr Lis Ellison-Loschmann has a board research focus across several areas including: understanding and addressing health inequities and the social determinants of health; improving chronic disease outcomes for Māori and Pacific peoples; pioneering translational research working with Whānau Ora collectives to develop and implement evidence-based programmes; and assessing the effectiveness of healthcare services to deliver equitable outcomes. Dr Ellison-Loschmann has three children, is interested in making clay/pottery forms and lives on the Kāpiti Coast, Wellington.
Dr Kirsten Smiler (Te Whānau a Kai, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Te Whakatōhea)
Dr Kirsten Smiler is a Pūkenga Māori | Māori Health lecturer for the School of Health at Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington. In most projects, Dr Smiler leads the relationship-building with Māori and Disability communities. Dr Smiler is currently taking a leading role in the analysis and writing up of the results from the 'Impacts of COVID-19 in Aotearoa | Ngā Kawekawe o Mate Korona' study, with a specific focus on the Māori data and Tāngata Whaikaha.
Jenene Crossan (Ngāi Tahu)
Jenene Crossan has lived experience of Long COVID, after first having COVID-19 in March 2020. Jenene has been instrumental in setting up the Long COVID Aotearoa Support Group and has become a key driver in Aotearoa ensuring that patient voice is heard in Long COVID research. Jenene is on the Rōpū Kaitaiki of the 'Impacts of COVID-19 in Aotearoa | Ngā Kawekawe o Mate Korona' study and is partnering with the research team to ensure widespread dissemination of those results, as well as being instrumental in the design and focus of future Long COVID research and health service provision. Jenene is the CEO and Co-Founder of Powered by Flossie (of B2B and B2C applications), with a speciality in consumer user experience.
Tāngata tiriti researchers
Dr Fiona McKenzie
Dr Fiona McKenzie has worked in epidemiology and public health research for 20 years, both in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. Dr McKenzie's career has primarily focussed on investigating and addressing inequities in health. Dr McKenzie played a key role in the design, analysis and reporting of the 'Impacts of COVID-19 in Aotearoa | Ngā Kawekawe o Mate Korona' study, and served as a member of the Health Quality & Safety Commission Expert Advisory Group on Health Service Access.
Dr Anna Brooks
Dr Anna Brooks is a Senior Lecturer and immunologist at the Faculty of Science, University of Auckland and is the academic director of Auckland Cytometry. Dr Brooks’ research focuses on immune cell profiling of various immune perturbations and is currently leading a study to understand the underlying immune dysfunction of Long COVID and its relationship with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Dr Brooks’ research interests focus on investigating the immune dysfunction associated with post-viral illnesses in order to develop diagnostics and inform intervention approaches.
Associate Professor Ridvan Firestone
Associate Professor Ridvan Firestone is a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Hauora and Health at Massey University. Assoc Prof Firestone's research involves investigations on social-cultural and health inequalities specifically among young Pasifika people with non-communicable diseases in Aotearoa New Zealand. Assoc Prof Firestone has a wider focus on co-developing community-based interventions with Pasifika and Māori communities to tailor investigations to meet the needs of people and ensure interventions are relevant and adaptable for long-term uptake by people in their communities.
Dr Claire O'Loughlin
Dr Claire O'Loughlin is a Research Fellow at Te Hikuwai Rangahau Hauora | Health Services Research Centre at Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington. Most of Dr O'Loughlin's work is within multidisciplinary research teams and on projects that have the practical outcome of improving practices/services for end users. She was a Named Investigator on the 'Impacts of COVID-19 in Aotearoa | Ngā Kawekawe o Mate Korona' study and is currently working on several projects related to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa and Long COVID more specifically.
Dr David Davies-Payne
Dr David Davis-Payne is a Paediatric Radiologist with 20 years of specialist experience, now only working part-time remotely for Starship Children's Hospital and on extended leave from private practice. Dr Davis-Payne has ongoing lived experience of Long COVID, having started to develop symptoms in January 2021. Dr Davis-Payne keenly follows current biomedical research developments and is convinced that a new understanding of Long COVID and similar post-viral diseases will lead to significant advances across the spectrum of chronic diseases.
Dr Rosie Dobson
Dr Rosie Dobson works in research and evaluation at Te Whatu Ora Waitematā, and is a Psychologist and Senior Research Fellow at the School of Population Health, University of Auckland. Dr Dobsons' research focuses on investigating how digital tools could make health services more accessible. Dr Dobson has been involved in the development and trial of digital health tools in a range of areas and has been an invited expert to the WHO’s ‘Be Healthy Be Mobile’ global mHealth initiative for non-communicable diseases.
Dr Sarah Rhodes
Dr Sarah Rhodes is a Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapist who has worked clinically in both acute and community settings and in both the public and private sectors. Dr Rhodes has worked as a lecturer at the School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago. Her research interests include sleep health, telehealth to support physical activity behaviour change and Long COVID. As part of the PNZ Cardio-respiratory Special Interest Group, Dr Rhodes has worked to raise awareness of Long COVID, develop resources and advocate for those living with Long COVID.
Fy Dunford
Fy Dunford is a Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapist with over 30 years of experience. In the last three years, Fy has been involved with education around Long COVID management, presenting locally and nationally, as part of the Physiotherapy New Zealand (PNZ) Cardio-respiratory Special Interest Group. Fy developed the Long COVID Symptom Map used to capture symptoms effectively and navigate appropriate care. Fy has been instrumental in championing the needs of affected DHB staff in the Taranaki region and driving the development of a Long Covid service to support them.
Lauren Piercy
Lauren Piercy is an Occupational Health Clinical Nurse Specialist working at Te Whatu Ora Taranaki. Lauren has been completing her studies within advanced nursing care and is working towards a Nurse Practitioner Pathway in Occupational Health. Lauren is currently working in the Long COVID staff clinic within Te Whatu Ora Taranaki, alongside colleagues within Allied Health. Lauren is very passionate about Occupational Health and growing exposure within this field of nursing.
Bailey Yee
Bailey Yee is a Research Fellow at Te Hikuwai Rangahau Hauora | Health Services Research Centre. Bailey completed a Master of Health specialising in 'Health Policy, Planning and Service Delivery', with a thesis focused on investigating the association between Metabolic Syndrome and related illnesses and the risk of Long COVID in Aotearoa New Zealand. Bailey is currently leading the Long COVID Collective and will coordinate all arms of the 'Evidence-based management of Long COVID' study and lead the health services research.
Project manager
Beate Nolan
Beate Noldan is a Project Manager at Te Hikuwai Rangahau Hauora | Health Services Research Centre, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, managing the 'Evidence-based management of Long COVID' study. She previously managed the 'Impacts of COVID-19 in Aotearoa | Ngā Kawekawe o Mate Korona' study and the HRC-funded research programme 'Enhancing Primary Health Care Services to Improve Health in Aotearoa New Zealand'.