To honour the memory of the physician and great researcher Maria de Sousa, the Portuguese Medical Association and the Bial Foundation decided to promote, from 2021 onwards and in exclusive partnership, the Maria de Sousa Award, which aims to award and support young Portuguese scientific researchers, up to the age of 35, with scientific projects in the area of Health Sciences, including a mandatory internship in an international center of excellence.

With a global amount of up to 150 thousand Euro, this Award includes among its patrons the Portuguese President and aims to support up to five scientific research projects which are either ongoing or yet to be started, for a maximum period of two years.

Maria de Sousa will always be remembered as a unique personality of science worldwide, which has marked not only the scientific and academic development in Portugal, but also the path and history of this Foundation. By awarding young researchers we are perpetuating the unique work of Maria de Sousa, who has always strived to create conditions for young scientists to make their dreams come true.