Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Ilaria Palla is a health economist and health technology assessment (HTA) specialist whose research sits at the intersection of medical robotics, clinical outcomes, and economic evaluation. Her work has made significant contributions to understanding the cost-effectiveness and broader value of robotic-assisted technologies in both surgical and rehabilitative contexts. Palla's most influential contribution, a 2011 systematic review on the economic evaluation of da Vinci-assisted robotic surgery, has garnered 225 citations, establishing her as a leading voice in the economic analysis of surgical robotics. This work helped shape how clinicians, hospital administrators, and policymakers assess the financial viability of adopting robotic platforms. Her subsequent 2016 prospective study further refined this analysis by integrating clinical outcomes into comparative health technology assessments of robotic, laparoscopic, and open surgery — addressing a critical methodological gap in earlier literature. Beyond the operating room, Palla has extended her evaluative lens to rehabilitation robotics, exploring patient acceptability of robotic technology among chronic stroke survivors — a relatively underexplored area with growing clinical relevance. Across her body of work, she has consistently championed rigorous, evidence-based frameworks for evaluating emerging medical technologies, making her research essential reading for anyone navigating the complex economics of healthcare innovation.