Ana Catarina Fonseca

Academic History

Ana Catarina Fonseca, MD, PhD, MPH, is a neurologist and Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Neurology at the University of Lisbon. She completed her medical degree in Lisbon, followed by a Master’s in Neurosciences, a European Master in Stroke Medicine, a Master of Public Health from Harvard University, and a PhD in Medicine (Neurology).

Prof. Fonseca is a staff neurologist in the stroke unit at Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, and a researcher at the Institute of Molecular Medicine, where she leads the Stroke Biobank and contributes to projects in precision stroke medicine. She completed research fellowships in Paris and at the Stroke Prevention Research Unit at the University of Oxford.

An active contributor to the scientific community, Prof. Fonseca has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and serves as an editorial board member for major journals including Stroke, Neurology and International Journal of Stroke. She has held leadership roles within the Portuguese Neurological Society and is currently a member of the Stroke Unit certification committee of the European Stroke Organization.

Speaking on cryptogenic stroke and precision medicine

Prof. Fonseca’s research focuses on cryptogenic stroke, heart–brain interactions, and precision medicine. She leads projects such as CAIUS and PRECISE-Stroke, aiming to improve diagnosis and outcomes in patients with undetermined stroke mechanisms.