Giovanni Pittiglio

Giovanni Pittiglio is an Assistant Professor of Robotics Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and the founder of the FuTURE Lab. He holds a PhD in Medical Robotics from the University of Leeds (UK), and prior degrees from Imperial College London and the University of Pisa. His research focuses on developing medical robots and devices for minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment, particularly in cancer therapy and anatomical interventions.

Education:

• PhD in Medical Robotics, University of Leeds (UK)
• MRes in Medical Robotics and Image Guided Interventions, Imperial College London (UK)
• MSc in Robotics, University of Pisa (Italy)
• BSc in Biomedical Engineering, University of Pisa (Italy)

Research Interests:
His work emphasizes continuum robots for accessing deep anatomical regions, magnetic actuation systems, and patient-specific catheter design. He aims to improve medical care accessibility through innovations like magnetic tentacles for lung cancer treatment and follow-the-leader navigation in bronchoscopy.

Awards:

• 2022-2023 British Council UK Alumni Award for Science and Sustainability
• 2023 Hamlyn Symposium Best Paper Award
• 2023 International Symposium on Medical Robotics Best Paper Award
• 2023 IROS Best Paper Award finalist

Lab & Activities:
As principal investigator of FuTURE Lab, he leads projects in medical robotics, including collaborations with Harvard Medical School. Recent activities include talks at ISMR 2025, IROS 2024, and presentations on cardiac ablation and lung cancer therapies using magnetic robotics.