Louca-Mai Brady is a Reader in Youth Involvement and Health at the Centre for Public Health and Community Care (CRIPACC), where she leads a programme of research focused on children and young people's participation in health and social care research and services. 

Louca-Mai has a background in applied social research in academia and the voluntary and public sectors, and as a independent research consultant. In addition to peer-reviewed publications, her outputs for professional and public audiences include an edited book on young people’s participation in healthcare (Brady, 2020) and guidance and a toolkit to support young people-led research (Brady and Graham, 2021). 

NIHR Academy member: Development and Skills Enhancement Award and Future-Focused Leadership programme – Emerging Research Leader (2024-25)

Advance HE Aurora women’s leadership development (2024 cohort)

Prizes

Patient Experience Network national awards 2018: Transformer of Tomorrow

• Research with children and young people
• Public involvement and co-production
• Children and young people's participation in the design, delivery and evaluation of health and care services
• Qualitative, participative and creative research methods
• Inclusive research with people who are marginalised and under-served
• PhD supervision

• Children's rights in healthcare and research
• Research with children and young people: qualitative methods and ethics
• Participative research approaches
• Involving children and young people in research

Louca-Mai has nationally and internationally recognised expertise in the involvement of children and young people in health and care research, including:

• Supporting the involvement of children and young people in a wide range of health and care ressarch, including leading the Herfordshire young people's research advisory group, and an associated a co-produced podcast and film. 
• Supporting the involvement of diverse young co-applicants in research funding applications and subsequent projects. 
• Invited presentations, webinars, workshops and training on children and young people's involvement nationally and internationally, including for the PPI Ignite network (2022). 
• Evaluating involvement, including an evaluation co-produced with young people and an associated peer-reviewed journal article; and a James Lind Initiative project on evaluating the extent and impact of young people’s involvement in NIHR studies (Brady and Preston, 2020). 
• NIHR INVOLVE advisory group member (2007-2016). Associate member (2016-2019). Member of working group on children and young people (2018-2019).
• Long-standing membership of UK (GenerationR Alliance) and European (eYPAGnet) networks of practitioners supporting CYP’s involvement in health and care research.