Beatris de Menezes Bragança

Maria Luiza Beatris de Menezes Bragança (6 November 1916 – 24 May 1983) was an Indian independence activist and research scientist who was the first Dean of Tata Memorial Hospital. She is known for her research in cancer and in identifying a cure for cobra venom.

Early life Maria Luiza Beatris de Menezes Bragança was born on 6 November 1916 in Cuelim village in Mormugao taluka. She and her sister Berta were daughters of Luís de Menezes Bragança and Ana, the sister of T. B. Cunha. She completed her MA and PhD In 1946, she was one of the youth leaders who marched to the Portuguese Consulate in Bombay, protesting against Cunha's arrest. Also in 1946, she accompanied Joachim Dias to speak to then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru about Goa's freedom; Nehru later issued a statement regarding the same. She was also associated with the National Congress (Goa) in Bombay.

Research In 1959 and 1960, she received the Lady Tata Memorial Trust scholarship to continue her research. She is known for her work in identifying a cure for cobra venom, getting interested in the topic by the high number of incidents of snake bites in Goa.

Menezes Bragança worked as a scientist at Haffkine Institute, Bombay, and was known internationally for her work. She later joined as a Research Scientist at the Tata Memorial Hospital. She later became its first Dean in 1974.

Death Menezes Bragança died in Bombay on 24 May 1983 of heart failure.