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About

Runa Lazzarino is a leading researcher at the intersection of socially assistive robotics (SARs), healthcare, and cultural competence. Her work systematically investigates how humanoid robots can be effectively integrated into health, social care, and education, with a particular focus on the human factors that determine success or failure. Her landmark 2020 systematic review, "Enablers and barriers to the implementation of socially assistive humanoid robots in health and social care," has garnered over 200 citations, establishing a foundational framework for the field. Lazzarino’s major contributions include identifying the critical role of cultural dimensions in technology acceptance, as demonstrated in her international survey of nurses and midwives, and mapping the training needs of healthcare professionals to prepare them for an AI-augmented workforce. She has also pioneered the development of evidence-based, open-access training curricula, such as the IENE 10 project, to foster culturally competent and compassionate care alongside robotic assistance. With over 390 total citations, Lazzarino’s work is essential reading for anyone exploring the socio-technical challenges of deploying robots in human-centered settings, moving the conversation beyond technical feasibility to real-world implementation and ethical practice.