Dr. Elias is an assistant professor in community health sciences at the University of Manitoba.

Her research interests include gender health, social determinants, health info-structures, knowledge translation, Aboriginal health and research ethics. She conducts multilevel quantitative studies and mixed-method studies into the social, cultural, economic, political and historical determinants of health.

 Dr. Elias currently directs three Canadian Institutes of Health Research team grants in this area: 1) The social environment and health of Manitoba First Nations women and men; 2) The Manitoba First Nations health report card to understand health disparities; 3) the CIHR First Nation Cancer Team to address cancer disparities, existing and emerging. These grants include sub-studies to build effective knowledge translation networks by strengthening, through mutual learning and mentoring, interdisciplinary knowledge translation and analytical capacity between Indigenous, government, health service and university partners.

Dr. Elias is a strong advocate of team collaborations, and in the last 5 years has contributed as a principal, co-principal and co-investigator to over 34 grants exceeding 15 million dollars. Her program of research demonstrates the power of collaborations to advance the health rights of indigenous populations, locally, nationally and internationally.

She also leads one of the research teams exploring water as a human right.