Stefania La Grutta

Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, Istituto di Farmacologia Traslazionale

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Total Citations

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About

Stefania La Grutta is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of pediatric respiratory medicine and human-robot interaction. Her work centers on leveraging social robotics to improve therapeutic adherence in children with chronic respiratory conditions, particularly asthma. La Grutta’s major contribution lies in demonstrating how socially assistive robots can serve as engaging, non-pharmacological tools to motivate young patients, enhance self-management behaviors, and bridge communication gaps in clinical settings. Her seminal 2020 paper, "Social robots and therapeutic adherence: A new challenge in pediatric asthma?" has garnered 22 citations, establishing a foundational framework for this emerging field. She further expanded this vision in her 2023 work on medical assistive robots, exploring their broader applications in respiratory care for conditions like asthma and COPD. By integrating robotics with behavioral health, La Grutta has opened new avenues for personalized, technology-driven interventions that empower pediatric patients. Her research not only advances the science of assistive robotics but also offers practical, scalable solutions to improve quality of life for children with chronic diseases—a truly innovative achievement at the crossroads of medicine and engineering.