Coordinator Professor with Habilitation at University of Aveiro, Portugal.
Prof. Dr. Marisa Lousada 🇵🇹 is a distinguished Coordinator Professor with Habilitation in Health Sciences at the University of Aveiro, Portugal 🏫. She specializes in speech-language therapy and has significantly contributed to clinical research, teaching, and program leadership 👩🏫📚. As Head of the Master’s Program in Speech Therapy and an executive board member, she fosters societal cooperation and knowledge transfer 🌍🤝. A prolific researcher, she is a member of the RISE-Health Unit and has authored over 45 journal articles, 10 book chapters, and multiple technical resources 📖🧪. Prof. Lousada has secured major competitive grants, mentored PhD and MSc students 🎓, and actively serves the academic and clinical community through editorial roles and scientific committees 📝. Her work in speech-language pathology, particularly in autism, language disorders, and phonological therapy, has earned her national recognition 🏅. She is deeply committed to innovation, social inclusion, and interdisciplinary research 🔬💬.
Professional Profile:
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✅Suitability For Best Researcher Award – Prof. Marisa Lousada
Prof. Dr. Marisa Lousada is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award based on her outstanding academic, research, and leadership credentials in Speech-Language Therapy and Health Sciences. With a career marked by interdisciplinary research, social innovation, and public health impact, she exemplifies the qualities sought in an exceptional researcher.
📘 Education & Qualifications
Dr. Marisa Lousada holds an extensive academic background in health and speech sciences 🎓. She earned her Habilitation in Health Sciences from the University of Aveiro in 2024 🧑🏫, after previously completing her Ph.D. in Health Sciences and Technologies at the same university in 2012 🧬. Prior to that, she earned her Master’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Aveiro in 2006 👩🔬, and began her academic journey with a BSc in Speech-Language Therapy from the Alcoitão School of Health Sciences in 2002 🗣️. Her continuous academic progression reflects her dedication to deepening her expertise and advancing the field of speech therapy 📚✨.
🚀 Professional Development
Prof. Dr. Marisa Lousada has steadily built an exemplary academic and professional profile in the fields of speech-language therapy and health sciences 🌟🗣️. Currently a Coordinator Professor with Habilitation at the University of Aveiro, she leads the Master’s Program in Speech Therapy and serves on the executive board responsible for knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship 💼💡. She’s also a vital contributor to the RISE-Health research unit, where she supports projects in primary health care and language development 🧠👶. Beyond teaching undergraduate to Ph.D. programs 🎓, she has supervised over 50 master’s and 10 doctoral students, shaping future leaders in her field 👩🏫. Dr. Lousada actively participates in national academic evaluations and contributes to curricular development with the Higher Education Accreditation Agency (A3ES) 🇵🇹📊. Her multidimensional engagement—research, leadership, supervision, and public engagement—highlights her as a key figure in health education and speech-language innovation 🔍🔊.
🔬 Research Focus
Dr. Lousada’s research primarily lies within clinical linguistics, speech-language therapy, and developmental communication disorders 🗣️👧🧠. Her work focuses on intervention strategies for children with speech and language impairments, especially those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developmental language disorder (DLD), and phonological disorders 👩⚕️🧩. She is the Principal Investigator of multiple funded projects exploring the effectiveness of therapeutic programs like the Fonolexis and PICP 🎯📊. Dr. Lousada’s research also extends to early childhood literacy, multilingual development, digital communication tools, and healthcare communication for marginalized populations (e.g., refugees and migrant mothers) 🌍👩🍼. She integrates mixed-methods research, cross-sectional surveys, and clinical trials in real-world health settings, contributing to impactful and inclusive speech-language therapy solutions 🧪🧾. Her contributions directly support educational equity, child development, and social innovation through evidence-based practices 🌟📈.
🧠 Research Skill
Dr. Marisa Lousada possesses robust skills in clinical trials, psychometric evaluation, intervention program development, and translational research 📉🧪📋. She specializes in developing, validating, and applying standardized assessment tools for speech-language impairments, especially in preschool-aged children 🧒📏. Her expertise includes designing mixed-method studies, conducting randomized controlled and quasi-experimental trials, and performing systematic reviews with high methodological rigor 🔎📚. As a co-editor and author of technical manuals and applications, she blends theory with clinical utility to ensure practical impact 🔧📘. She is adept at supervising complex theses and leading multidisciplinary teams to solve communication-related health challenges 👥🔬. Her involvement in community outreach, program evaluation, and digital health innovations (e.g., mHealth tools for vocal health) showcases her adaptability and forward-thinking approach in health sciences and speech therapy 🎤📲.
🏅 Awards & Honors
Dr. Lousada’s contributions have earned her numerous prestigious awards 🏆. In 2023, she received the Scientific Merit Award from the Portuguese Society of Speech Therapy and the Cooperation Award from the University of Aveiro (€4000) 🤝🎓. She also won the Dr. Maria Lutegarda Scientific Research Award twice (2021 and 2023) and the 1st Social Innovation Award at ARRISCA C for a pioneering business idea (€3500) 💡🥇. Her collaborative works have received top honors, including the Best Oral Communication Award at the Young Researchers Conference (2022) and Best Scientific Article Award from the Portuguese Journal of Speech Therapy 🗣️📜. These recognitions highlight her research excellence, innovation, and deep commitment to social impact and academic leadership 📈👩🏫
Publication Top Notes
1. Teste fonético-fonológico ALPE
Authors: A. Mendes, E. Afonso, M. Lousada, F. Andrade
Published: 2013, Aveiro: Edubox
Citations: 119
Summary:
This publication presents the ALPE phonetic-phonological test, a standardized assessment tool developed in Portuguese to evaluate phonetic and phonological disorders in children. The test is used by speech-language therapists to diagnose and plan appropriate interventions. It offers a structured format to assess speech production skills, with a particular focus on segmental and suprasegmental phonological components.
2. Generalization and maintenance of treatment gains in primary progressive aphasia (PPA): a systematic review
Authors: I. Cadório, M. Lousada, P. Martins, D. Figueiredo
Published: 2017, International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 52(5), 543–560
Citations: 102
Summary:
This systematic review examines how treatment effects in Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) are generalized to untrained contexts and maintained over time. It categorizes studies by intervention type, outcome measures, and follow-up duration.
3. Intelligibility as a clinical outcome measure following intervention with children with phonologically based speech–sound disorders
Authors: M. Lousada, L.M.T. Jesus, A. Hall, V. Joffe
Published: 2014, International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 49(5), 584–601
Citations: 86
Summary:
This study investigates the effectiveness of intervention programs for children with phonologically based speech-sound disorders (SSD) by using intelligibility as a clinical outcome.
4. Phonological and articulation treatment approaches in Portuguese children with speech and language impairments: A randomized controlled intervention study
Authors: M. Lousada, L.M.T. Jesus, S. Capelas, C. Margaça, D. Simões, A. Valente, et al.
Published: 2013, International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 48(2), 172–187
Citations: 83
Summary:
A randomized controlled trial comparing phonological vs. articulation therapy approaches in Portuguese-speaking children with SSD.
5. The clinical practice of speech and language therapists with children with phonologically based speech sound disorders
Authors: C. Oliveira, M. Lousada, L.M.T. Jesus
Published: 2015, Child Language Teaching and Therapy, 31(2), 173–194
Citations: 72
Summary:
This study surveys clinical practices among speech-language therapists (SLTs) in treating children with phonologically based SSDs in Portugal. It examines decision-making, intervention approaches, and outcome evaluation.
🏁 Conclusion
Prof. Dr. Marisa Lousada’s scientific rigor, clinical relevance, and societal impact collectively establish her as a leading figure in health research and speech-language therapy. Her multifaceted contributions—in research, education, innovation, and social responsibility—make her a strong and deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award.