07-01-2026
Ana Isabel Ferreira, a PhD student in the Doctoral Program in Biomedical Engineering at NOVA FCT, has been awarded the 2025 Scholarship of the Society of Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics (SPND) for her project “Development of Visual and Motor Skills in Preterm Infants.”
Following a rigorous evaluation process, the SPND jury highlighted the project’s high scientific quality and merit, as well as its well-structured design and comprehensive documentation.
The winning project, developed under the supervision of Professors and Researchers Carla Quintão and Cláudia Quaresma from the Department of Physics at NOVA FCT, focuses on the identification of neurophysiological, clinical, and developmental markers in preterm infants. The goal is to strengthen early detection and timely intervention in potential sequelae associated with prematurity—a condition that affects around 10% of live births worldwide, with significant impacts on public health, society, and the economy (WHO, 2012; WHO, 2022).
Based on a longitudinal protocol, the study includes data collection and analysis at 4, 6, 9, and 12 months of age, involving both preterm and full-term infants. The research was conducted at Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa and the Unidade de Saúde Familiar da Baixa, both part of ULS de São José.
Preliminary results suggest that this research may support improved clinical follow-up of preterm infants, enhance decision-making in neurodevelopment, and foster the identification of risk biomarkers. This distinction recognizes the project’s scientific relevance and supports the continued dissemination of its findings.
The 2025 SPND Scholarship aims to support activities of a scientific, educational, or technological development nature, promoting the advancement and dissemination of knowledge related to the psychomotor and behavioral development of children and adolescents
