Prof. Roberto Pini

Roberto Pini, physicist, is a Research Director of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) and from 2013 to 2023 he has served as the Director of the “Nello Carrara” Institute of Applied Physics of the CNR in Florence, Italy. Since 2000 he is also a contract professor at the University of Florence, Dept. of Physics and Dept. of Medicine and Surgery for university and post-doc courses on Basic Optics, Biomedical Optics, Lasers and Applications.

His recent research deals with:
=> Biophotonic technologies for diagnostics and therapy: Laser and LED techniques for applications to Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Wound Healing, Neurosurgery, Microvascular Surgery, Urology, also combined with robotic technologies. Advanced microscopic techniques (Confocal Fluorescence, Raman, Photoacoustic, Multiphoton SHG, AFM). Micro-Raman techniques (SERS, TERS) for early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's).
=> Development of functional nanomaterials (Au and Ar nanoparticles, graphene, biopolymers) activatable by laser radiation for applications to nanomedicine (tumor diagnostics and therapy, drug release).
=> Physics and technology of laser systems (Excimer, Nd:YAG, CO2, Diode, etc.) for applications to material processing, conservation of artworks, medicine and surgery.
=> Competences on optoelectronic and photonic instruments for the aerospace.

He has been the coordinator, as well as the principal investigator of many research projects (29 in the last 10 years), mainly involving industrial research on themes of Optics and Photonics.

He is co-author of more than 300 scientific publications, including 5 books. He is also co-author of 22 patents, most of them on lasers and biomedical optics technologies.