Maria Inês Clara (7015-15B3-522C)

Curriculum Vitae

Maria Inês Clara

Maria Inês Clara. Completed the Doutoramento in Clinical and Health Psychology (Ph.D.) / Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde in 2025 by Universidade de Coimbra, Mestrado in Clinical and Health Psychology / Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde in 2019 by Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação and Licenciatura in Psychology / Psicologia in 2017 by Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação. Is Postdoc in University College Cork and Técnico Psicologia Especialista in OncoSleep. Published 10 articles in journals. Has 2 section(s) of books and 1 book(s). Organized 3 event(s). Participated in 6 event(s). Has received 11 awards and/or honors. Participates and/or participated as Invited Scientist Fellow in 1 project(s), Post-doc in 1 project(s), Principal investigator in 1 project(s), Research Fellow in 1 project(s) and Researcher in 1 project(s). Works in the area(s) of Social Sciences with emphasis on Psychology and Medical and Health Sciences.

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Identification

Personal identification

Full name: Maria Inês Clara
Gender: Female

Citation names

Clara, Maria Inês

Author identifiers

Ciência ID: 7015-15B3-522C
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9099-033X

Email addresses

mclara@uc.pt (Professional)

Knowledge fields

Social Sciences - Psychology
Medical and Health Sciences

Education

	Degree	Classification
2021 - 2025 Concluded	Clinical and Health Psychology (Ph.D.) / Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde (Doutoramento) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal "ONLINE COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR INSOMNIA TREATMENT IN CANCER SURVIVORS" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	Pass with honour and merit
2024/12 Concluded	Especialidade em Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde (Título de especialista) Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses, Portugal
2024 Concluded	Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia Disorder - Deepeing Cognitive Behaviour Treatment for Insomnia Disorder (Outros) European Sleep Research Society, Germany
2022 Concluded	Telemedicine in Cancer Care Continuum: implementation and integration (Outros) Sharing Progress in Cancer Care, Switzerland
2022 Concluded	Psychological Intervention with Older Adults / Intervenção Psicológica com Adultos mais Velho (Outros) Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses, Portugal
2022 Concluded	Guidelines for Supervision Practices / Orientações para a Prática da Supervisão (Outros) Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses, Portugal
2021 Concluded	Psychological Intervention With LGBTQ Populations / Intervenção Psicológica Com Pessoas LGBTQ (Outros) Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses, Portugal
2021 Concluded	Sexuality, Fertility and Cancer (basic course) / Curso básico em Sexualidade, Fertilidade e Cancro (Outros) Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro Núcleo Regional do Centro, Portugal
2021 Concluded	Palliative Care (basic course) / Curso básico em Cuidados Paliativos (Outros) Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro Núcleo Regional do Centro, Portugal
2021 Concluded	HelloAI RIS - Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare / Inteligência Artificial nos Cuidados de Saúde (Outros) European Institute of Innovation & Technology, Germany
2020 Concluded	Psychological First Aid / Primeiros Socorros Psicológicos (Outros) Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health Preparedness, United States
2020 Concluded	Professionals in Palliative Care / O Profissional no Âmbito dos Cuidados Paliativos (Outros) Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses, Portugal
2020 Concluded	Implementation of Psychology Services in Public Health Units / Implementação De Serviços De Psicologia Em Unidades De Saúde Do SNS (Outros) Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses, Portugal
2020 Concluded	Provision of Psychology Services Mediated by Information and Communication Technologies / Prestação de Serviços de Psicologia Mediados por Tecnologias da Informação e da Comunicação (Outros) Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses, Portugal
2019 Concluded	Clinical and Health Psychology / Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde (Mestrado) Major in Cognitive-Behavioural Interventions in Clinical and Health Psychology / Intervenções Cognitivo-Comportamentais nas Perturbações Psicológicas e Saúde Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Portugal	18
2019 Concluded	Sexual problems in cancer patients / Problemas sexuais no doente oncológico (workshop) (Outros) Universidade de Aveiro Departamento de Educação e Psicologia, Portugal
2017 Concluded	Psychology / Psicologia (Licenciatura) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Portugal
2013 - 2014 Attended	Pharmaceutical Sciences / Ciências Farmacêuticas (Mestrado integrado) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Affiliation

Science

	Category Host institution	Employer
2025 - Current	Postdoc (Research)	University College Cork, Ireland

2025 - 2025	Researcher (Research)	Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Investigação em Neuropsicologia e Intervenção Cognitivo-Comportamental, Portugal

Teaching in Higher Education

	Category Host institution	Employer
2022 - 2023	Invited Assistant (University Teacher)	Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Other Careers

	Category Host institution	Employer
2021 - Current	Técnico Psicologia Especialista (Técnico Psicologia)	OncoSleep, Portugal

Others

	Category Host institution	Employer
2019 - 2025	Collaborative member / Membro colaborativo	Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo-Comportamental, Portugal
	Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo-Comportamental, Portugal
2021 - 2024	Doctoral studentship in Health Psychology / Bolseira Doutoramento em Psicologia da Saúde	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
	Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo-Comportamental, Portugal
2020 - 2024	Clinical Psychologist / Psicóloga Clínica (collaborating Insomnia Consultation)	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
	Centro de Medicina do Sono do Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal
2019 - 2020	Técnica Superior (Psicologia)	Parque do Alentejo de Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal
	Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Portugal
2018 - 2019	Medical Psychology Intern (Psycho-Oncology, Transplant) / Psicóloga Estagiária em Psicologia de Ligação (Psico-Oncologia, Transplantes)	Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra EPE, Portugal

Projects

Grant

	Designation	Funders
2025 - Current	Co-creation and implementation of an intervention to improve the understanding of TesticulaR cANcer late effects and unmet Supportive CarENeeDs of AYA survivors using eXtended Reality 10.3030/101214413 Post-doc University College Cork, Ireland
2021 - 2024	Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy program for insomniac cancer survivors 2020.05728.BD Principal investigator Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo-Comportamental, Portugal	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro Concluded
2019 - 2020	Inhibitory processing in the aging brain: Disentangling the effects of age, chronotype, time of day and executive control Bolsa BIAL 234/14 Research Fellow Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Portugal	Concluded

Other

	Designation	Funders
2025 - 2025	Promoting women's access to evidence-based perinatal mental health promotion programs: A pilot implementation study of the Be a Mom program in the context of the National Health Service FCG/GrowingMinds294626 Researcher Serviço Nacional de Saúde, Portugal
2020/10 - 2023/10	Mindfulness and Compassionate Acceptance intervention for Chronic Insomnia Program SFRH/BD/147556/2019 Invited Scientist Fellow	Concluded

Outputs

Publications

Book	Clara, Maria Inês. História da Medicina do Sono em Portugal. Portugal. 2025.
Book chapter	Clara, Maria Inês; Silva, Maria Raquel; Bizarro, Rita. "Sono". In Guia de Recursos para a Pessoa com Doença Pncológica e seus Cuidadores. Portugal: Portuguese National Cancer Hub (Agência de Investigação Clínica e Inovação Biomédica & Direção-Geral da Saúde), 2025. Accepted Clara, Maria Inês; Tomás, Joana Rita; Simões, Sara; Almeida, Ana Cristina. "(Re)Integração psicossocial por autoformação em contexto de reclusão". In Educação, formação e transformação digital em estabelecimentos prisionais, 25-47. Lisboa, Portugal: Universidade Aberta, 2020. Published
Conference abstract	Clara, Maria Inês; Hegarty, Josephine; van Straten, Annemieke; Canavarro, Maria Cristina; Allen Gomes, Ana. "Effectiveness of digital cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia in cancer survivors: The OncoSleep randomized controlled trial". Paper presented in European Cancer Summit 2024, Bruxelas, 2024. Published • 10.1016/j.jcpo.2024.100536 Clara, Maria Inês; Canavarro, Maria Cristina; Allen Gomes, Ana. "Psychometric properties of the European Portuguese version of the Insomnia Severity Index in cancer survivors". Paper presented in Sleep Europe, Seville, 2024. Published • 10.1111/jsr.14291 Clara, Maria Inês; Canavarro, Maria Cristina; Allen Gomes, Ana. "Cancer survivors' perspectives on Digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia: Thematic analysis to treatment optimisation". Paper presented in Sleep Europe 2024, Seville, 2024. Published • 10.1111/jsr.14291 Clara, Maria Inês; Allen Gomes, Ana. "Sleep versus school timings of preschool and school-age children". Paper presented in World Sleep Congress 2022, Rome, 2022. Published • 10.1016/j.sleep.2022.05.558 Clara, Maria Inês; van Straten, Annemieke; Miller-Mendes, Mariana; Canavarro, Maria Cristina; Allen Gomes, Ana. "Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral intervention for cancer survivors suffering from insomnia: the study protocol of a pragmatic superiority randomized controlled trial". Paper presented in World Sleep Congress 2022, Rome, 2022. Published • 10.1016/j.sleep.2022.05.349. Clara, Maria Inês; Clemente, Vanda; Abrantes, Joana Azevedo; Pinto, Maria Helena; Gomes, Ana A.; Allen Gomes, A.; Gomes, Ana Allen. "Trends in sleep-wake patterns of primary school-age children: a comparison between 1995 and 2016". Paper presented in World Sleep Congress 2019, Vancouver, 2019. Published • 10.1016/j.sleep.2019.11.027
Conference poster	Clara, Maria Inês; Canavarro, Maria Cristina; Allen Gomes, Ana. "Cancer survivors' perspectives on Digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia: thematic analysis to treatment optimisation". Paper presented in Sleep Europe 2024, 2024. Clara, Maria Inês; Canavarro, Maria Cristina; Allen Gomes, Ana. "Psychometric properties of the European Portuguese version of the Insomnia Severity Index in cancer survivors". Paper presented in Sleep Europe 2024, 2024. Clara, Maria Inês; Canavarro, Maria Cristina; Allen Gomes, Ana. "Pursuing optimal treatment for insomnia in cancer care". Paper presented in APA 2023, 2023. Clara, Maria Inês; Allen Gomes, Ana. "Sleep problems among Portuguese patients on renal replacement therapy". Paper presented in CINEICC IV International Congress, 2023. Clara, Maria Inês. "Working by the body clock: Lessons from COVID-19". Paper presented in CINEICC IV International Congress, 2023. Clara, Maria Inês; Canavarro, Maria Cristina; Severina, Ana; Ramos, Susana; Rafael, Carla; Allen Gomes, Ana. "Fatigue phenotypes in cancer and noncancer Portuguese populations". Paper presented in CINEICC IV International Congress, 2023. Clara, Maria Inês; Stein, Kevin D.; Canavarro, Maria C.; Allen Gomes, A.. Corresponding author: Clara, Maria Inês. "European Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory - Short Form: A validation study". Paper presented in International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) World Congress, 2022. "Sleep-wake patterns and insomnia symptoms on the first COVID-19 pandemic wave in Portugal". Paper presented in World Sleep Congress 2022, 2022. "Insomnia symptoms and Care-giving vs. Competition Mentalities: preliminary findings". Paper presented in World Sleep Congress 2022, 2022. Clara, Maria Inês. "Protocolo de estudo de um programa online para o tratamento da insónia em sobreviventes oncológicos". Paper presented in 2º Congresso de Psico-Oncologia da Liga Portuguesa contra o Cancro, 2021. Bettencourt, Catarina; Pires, Luís; Clara, Maria Inês; Tomé, Beatriz; Leitão, José Augusto; Cruz, Hugo Fernandes; Fernandes Silva, Carlos; et al. "Time of day X chronotype effects on adolescent's emotional states". Paper presented in 25th Congress of the European Sleep Research Society, 2020. Clara, Maria Inês; Clemente, Vanda; Abrantes, Joana Azevedo; Pinto, Maria Helena; Gomes, Ana A.; Allen Gomes, A.; Gomes, Ana Allen. "Trends in sleep-wake patterns of primary school-age children: a comparison between 1996 and 2016". Paper presented in World Sleep 2019 Congress (Canada), 2019. Clara, Maria Inês; Gomes, Ana A.; Allen Gomes, A.; Gomes, Ana Allen. "An epidemiological study of sleep-wake timings in school children from 4 to 11 years old: insights on the sleep phase shift and implications for the school starting times’ debate". Paper presented in 30th Conference of the International Society for Chronobiology (Poland), 2019. Clara, Maria Inês; Neves, Maria Carolina. "Caracterização da casuística da consulta de Psico-oncologia no ano de 2018". Paper presented in VIII Fórum Boas Práticas em Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental, 2018.
Journal article	Clara, Maria I.; van Straten, Annemieke; Savard, Josée; Canavarro, Maria C.; Allen Gomes, Ana. "Web-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia in cancer survivors: The OncoSleep randomized trial". Sleep Medicine 129 (2025): 67-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2025.02.021. 10.1016/j.sleep.2025.02.021 Keane, Danielle et al.. "Perspectives on care delivery systems and implementation strategies gleaned from randomised controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of digital health solutions for supporting cancer survivorship care for adult patients: a systematic review protocol". (2025): Under revision Imke Buekenhout; Maria Inês Clara; Ana Allen Gomes; José Leitão. "Examining sex differences in morningness-eveningness and inter-individual variability across years of age: A cross-sectional study". Chronobiology International (2024): https://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2024.2444667. 10.1080/07420528.2024.2444667 Maria Inês Clara; Annemieke Van Straten; Maria Cristina Canavarro; Ana Allen Gomes. "Digital Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Cancer Survivors: Protocol for a Pragmatic Clinical Trial". Acta Médica Portuguesa (2024): https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.21094. 10.20344/amp.21094 Miller-Mendes, Mariana; Castilho, Paula; Clara, Maria Inês; Clemente, Vanda; Gomes, Ana Allen. "Cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy for insomnia: Exploring the potential benefit of psychological flexibility and self-compassion combined with behavioral strategies". New Ideas in Psychology 69 (2023): 101013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2023.101013. 10.1016/j.newideapsych.2023.101013 Maria Inês Clara; Maria Cristina Canavarro; Mariana Miller-Mendes; Ana Allen Gomes. "Insomnia in Cancer Survivors". European Psychologist (2023): https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000506. 10.1027/1016-9040/a000506 Maria Inês Clara; Kevin Stein; Maria Cristina Canavarro; Ana Allen Gomes. "European Portuguese Version of the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form: Validation Study". Acta Médica Portuguesa (2023): https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.18797. 10.20344/amp.18797 Clara, Maria Inês; Clemente, Vanda; Abrantes, Joana; Marques, Daniel R.; Azevedo, Maria H. P.; Allen Gomes, Ana. "Sleep-wake patterns and disturbances in Portuguese primary school children: a comparison between 1995 and 2016". Sleep and Biological Rhythms 20 4 (2022): 541-549. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s41105-022-00400-w. Published • 10.1007/s41105-022-00400-w Clara, Maria; Gomes, Ana A.; Allen Gomes, A.; Gomes, Ana Allen. "An epidemiological study of sleep-wake timings in school children from 4 to 11 years old: insights on the sleep phase shift and implications for the school starting times' debate". Sleep Medicine 66 (2020): 51-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2019.06.024. Published • 10.1016/j.sleep.2019.06.024
Report	Csaba Dégi; Isabel Rubio; Gilliosa Spurrier-Bernard. 2025. United Against Cancer: Forging New Frontiers. https://www.europeancancer.org/resources/news/launching-european-cancer-summit-2024-report.html.

Intellectual property

Trademark

2024. "OncoSleep".

Activities

Oral presentation

	Presentation title	Event name Host (Event location)
2024/02/15	Sonhos contectados: Explorando a relação entre o sono e a Tecnologia	4º Congresso do Cancro da Mama do Algarve 2025 (Lagos, Portugal)
2024	Delivering a bright future in oncology	European Cancer Summit 2024 European Cancer Organisation (Bruxelas, Belgium)
2024	Surviving the wake of cancer: Exploring insomnia patterns among Portuguese cancer survivors seeking a digital intervention for insomnia treatment	Sleep Europe 2024 European Sleep Research Society (Seville, Spain)
2023	Digital insomnia therapeutics: a promising clinical approach for cancer survivors	CINEICC IV International Congress Universidade de Coimbra
2022	Sleep versus school timings of preschool and school-age children	Developmental issues in pediatric sleep, World Sleep Congress World Sleep Society (Rome, Italy)

Event organisation

	Event name Type of event (Role)	Institution / Organization
2020 - 2024	PsihDay - Mostra Doutoramento em Psicologia (2021 - 2024) Conference (Member of the Organising Committee)	Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Portugal

Event participation

	Activity description Type of event	Event name Institution / Organization
2024/06/07 - Current	Moderator in the Webinar 'Living with, through and beyond cancer' Other	Webinar 'Living with, through and beyond cancer' COST Action Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care, Ireland
2024 - 2024	Workshop: Importância do sono em contexto académico	Universidade Aberta, Portugal
2022 - 2022	Palestra "Cuidar do Sono de Crianças e Adolescentes", dirigida para os pais/encarregados de educação do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico e do 7º ano de escolaridade Workshop	Cuidar do Sono de Crianças e Adolescentes Escola do Sátão, Portugal
2022 - 2022	Palestra "Hábitos de sono saudáveis", dirigida a estudantes do Ensino Secundário	Hábitos de sono saudáveis Agrupamento de Escolas de Penalva do Castelo, Portugal

Association member

	Society Organization name	Role
2022 - Current	National Cancer Hub (DGS & AICIB)	Member of the Stakeholders Group
2022 - Current	American Psychological Association
2022 - Current	Sleep Research Society	Communications Committee
2021 - Current	Portuguese Sleep Association / Associação Portuguesa do Sono
2020 - Current	Portuguese Psychological Association / Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses
2022 - 2023	World Sleep Society

Committee member

	Activity description Role	Institution / Organization
2024 - Current	Digital Health Network Member	European Cancer Organisation, Belgium
2023 - Current	Communications Committee	Sleep Research Society, United States
2023 - Current	Virtual Scientific Communication Coordinator Co-Lead @ CA21152 - Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care (INE-CSC)
2022 - 2024	Comissão de Curso do Doutoramento em Psicologia - Representante de alunas/os de 3º ciclo	Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Portugal

Consulting

	Activity description	Institution / Organization
2025 - 2025	Youth Policy Dialogue on Cancer	European Commission, Belgium

Course / Discipline taught

	Academic session	Degree Subject (Type)	Institution / Organization
2024/03/27 - 2024/03/27	Perturbações de Sono	(Outros)	Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro Núcleo Regional do Norte, Portugal
2024 - 2024	Intervenção na Insónia	Formação Avançada em Psico-Oncologia (Pós-Graduação)	Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro Núcleo Regional do Centro, Portugal
2022 - 2023	Behavioral, Cognitive and Contextual Models / Modelos Comportamentais, Cognitivos e Contextuais	(Licenciatura)	Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Evaluation committee

	Activity description Role	Institution / Organization	Funding entity
2023 - Current	Comissão de Avaliação do Doutoramento em Psicologia

Interview (newspaper / magazine)

	Activity description	Newspaper / Forum
2022/04	Nesta entrevista, Maria Inês Clara apresentou o seu projeto sobre a fadiga e falou sobre a importância da investigação em Psicologia para a saúde pública. Este estudo conta com a colaboração do Professor Kevin D. Stein e do Centro Hospitalar do Médio Tejo, e com a Medida de Apoio à Investigação em Saúde Psicológica, promovida pela Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses.	PSIS21

Interview (tv / radio show)

	Program	Topic
2024 - 2024	Medida AISP - OncoSleep project	OncoSleep
2023 - 2023	Podcast O teu mal é sono	Sono e cancro

Journal scientific committee

	Journal title (ISSN)	Publisher
2021 - Current	European Journal of Psychology Open (2673-8627)	Hopogrefe

Scientific expedition

	Activity description	Institution / Organization
2024 - 2024	Scientific mission: Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care	University College Cork, Ireland

Distinctions

Award

2025	AICSO-MASCC Young Investigator Award Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, Canada
2024	Prémio Inovação em Saúde: Transformação Digital Sanofi Produtos Farmacêuticos Lda, Portugal NTT Data Portugal, Portugal Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2024	Best oral communication (Empirical studies) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Portugal
2023	Best infographic (Member Category): Nighttime habits for brighter days Sleep Research Society, United States
2023	Bolsa Dr. Rocha Alves Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro Núcleo Regional do Centro, Portugal
2022	4th Place in the Social Innovation Category, of the 11th Edition of the ARRISCA C Ideas Competition
2018	Merit Award for Top 3% Students / 3% Melhores Alunos UC Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Portugal

Title

2024	Especialista em Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde / Specialist in Clinical and Health Psychologist Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses, Portugal

Other distinction

2024	Top 3 selected Young Cancer Professionals: European Cancer Summit European Cancer Organisation, Belgium