Associate Professor Maria Elena Giannaccini will play a leading role at the upcoming Soft Robotics Health Conference 2027, the UK’s flagship event dedicated to exploring the future of soft robotics in healthcare.

As part of the organising committee, Maria Elena will contribute her expertise across a series of sessions designed to foster discussion, collaboration, and innovation within the rapidly growing field. Her research focuses on the design of soft robotic technologies, with specialisms in wearable devices for assistive and rehabilitation devices and physical human-robot interaction is helping to shape new approaches to healthcare technologies.

On the morning of Day 1, Maria Elena will co-lead a session titled “Equality in Robotics” alongside Dr Sara Abad-Guaman from University College London (UCL). The session will explore the importance of inclusion, accessibility, and equitable design practices within robotics research and development, encouraging participants to consider how emerging technologies can better serve diverse communities.

Later that day, Maria Elena will facilitate an interactive Design Workshop, providing delegates with an opportunity to connect with clinicians and users to co-design novel soft robotic devices for healthcare. She will also join a panel discussion on the SoRoH-UK RAS White Paper, contributing to a wider conversation on the current state and future direction of soft robotics for healthcare.

On Day 2, Maria Elena will lead a second Design Workshop, continuing discussions around user-centred design, collaboration, and the translation of research into real-world healthcare applications.