Irene Di Bernardo Receives the First ServCollab Research Grant

ServCollab is pleased to announce that Irene Di Bernardo of the University of Naples Federico II has received the first ServCollab Research Grant.

Following the evaluation of all eligible applications, the ServCollab Research Grants Review Committee selected Irene's application as the highest-ranked submission in the first grant competition. As a member of the ServCollab Wisdom Community, Irene submitted a proposal focused on healthcare service research that seeks to improve care services for people experiencing vulnerability. The grant will support the continued development of the manuscript as it progresses through the invited revision process.

Reflecting on the award, Irene shared:

“I am deeply honored to receive the first ServCollab Research Grant and sincerely grateful to ServCollab for this meaningful recognition. I also thank my co-authors—Cristina Mele, Tiziana Russo Spena, Angelo Ranieri, and Erik Wästlund—for their invaluable contribution to this collaborative project. Conducted at the University Hospital of Naples Federico II, the research explores the potential of social robots to enrich care experience in pediatric healthcare settings. This grant encourages me to continue advancing service research that supports human well-being and real societal impact.”

Congratulations to Irene on receiving the first ServCollab Research Grant. ServCollab looks forward to following the continued development of this research and its contribution to serving humanity.

Applications are now open for the second ServCollab Research Grant (until Friday, October 2, 2026): https://www.servcollab.org/post/the-second-quarterly-servcollab-research-grant-of-2026