Prior to undertaking a PhD on 'embedding young people's participation in health services and research' Louca-Mai undertook and managed a wide range of research, evaluation and public involvement projects as a senior researcher working in the voluntary and public sector. This included leading the National Children’s Bureau’s research programmes on disability and the involvement of children and young people (2007-11) and managing research programmes on education and children and young people at the Disability Rights Commission (2003-6). She has particular interests and expertise in qualitative and participative research methods, research with children and young people, public involvement and engagement, health and social care and disability and inclusion.

In her current role at NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology Louca-Mai manages eyeYPAG, a young people’s advisory group informed by co-production principles which informs Moorfield’s hospital’s paediatric research, including overseeing an evaluation of the group co-produced with young group members.  She is also qualitative and public involvement lead for an evaluation of new ways of delivering children’s eye services at Moorfields after COVID-19. 

In her previous academic role as Research Associate at the Centre for Public Engagement, Kingston and  St George's Universitty Joint Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education (2017-19) Louca-Mai worked with the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLARHC) South London on literature reviews to inform the development of projects on public involvement in commissioning, and the role of public involvement professionals in facilitating involvement and engagement in health and social care research. She also piloted a young people's advisory group in a local school and led the qualitative phase of a mixed methods study exploring cultural influences on nursing staff attitudes towards people who self-harm.

Recent projects in other roles include:

• Rapid reviews for the NSPCC on involving community volunteers in the provision of services to vulnerable families (2019-20) and Action for Children on providing early help to children, young people and families (2020)
• Public involvement advisor on UCL Institute of Education systematic review on the effectiveness of interventions for children and young people who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Included co-facilitating a workshop with young people with lived experience of ACEs (2018)
• Led James Lind Initiative project on evaluating the extent and impact of young people’s involvement in NIHR studies (2016-17)
• Public involvement lead in NIHR-funded adaptation and feasibility study of a family and social network intervention for young people who misuse alcohol and drugs. This included recruiting and supporting a group of young advisors (2013-16)