Virginia Castelli

Italian Institute of Technology, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna

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About

Dr. Virginia Castelli is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of robotics and minimally invasive neurosurgery, whose work is redefining the boundaries of computer-assisted intervention. Her primary research areas encompass magnetic propulsion for endovascular devices, robotic platforms for neuroendoscopy, and the development of ergonomic human-robot interfaces for surgical applications. Dr. Castelli’s most influential contribution is her landmark 2011 study on “Magnetic propulsion and ultrasound tracking of endovascular devices,” which has garnered 49 citations and laid critical groundwork for wireless, controllable medical tools. She further advanced the field with her 2015 work on a robotic platform for neuroendoscopy, demonstrating how lightweight robots with compliant joints can mitigate risk factors in ventriculostomy procedures. Her 2014 study on accurate robot-assisted neuroendoscopy introduced an innovative handling interface that links a clinical endoscope to a 7-degree-of-freedom lightweight robot, effectively taming its intrinsic compliance to enable safe, synergistic surgeon-robot collaboration. Through these contributions, Dr. Castelli has established herself as a key figure in developing safer, more precise robotic tools for complex brain surgeries, with her work directly addressing the critical challenge of balancing robotic dexterity with patient safety.