Jelena is an epidemiologist with experience of quantitative research, especially in the methodology and conduct of systematic reviews. Her research interests include investigating sources of bias in randomised trials and non-randomised studies, and how these biases affect the results of meta-analyses.

She was involved in the development and evaluation of several tools for assessing bias for different study designs: the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomised trials, the ROBIS tool for systematic reviews, and the ACROBAT-NRSI tool for non-randomised studies of interventions.

Within ARC West she has led a variety of evidence projects covering topics such as malnutrition in alcohol-dependent homeless people, identifying personal and relationship factors associated with outcomes in people with dementia and their carers, the influence of the built environment on mental health and general wellbeing of residents, and treatment-resistant depression.