Dr. Sandro Olivo

Biography

Sandro Olivo graduated in Physics summa cum laude from the University of Trieste in Italy in 1995. He had a brief period in hospital physics, during which he developed methods to perform gamma ray spectroscopy. He obtained his PhD from the same university in 2000. Originally a high-energy physicist, Sandro's research interests progressively shifted toward the development of x-ray imaging detectors. His efforts are mainly focused on developing single-photon counting edge-on silicon microstrip detectors, which currently form the basis of the SECTRA mammography system. The compatibility of these detectors with synchrotron radiation x-ray beams has led to increased interest in synchrotron-based methods. He has made significant contributions to the development of the SYRMEP beamline at the ELETTRA synchrotron in Italy. After commissioning the beamline, Sandro developed a strong interest in x-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCi), striving to push the boundaries of medical applications. He has experimented with free-space propagation and crystal-based methods, leading to the development of his original techniques based on masks for pixel edge illumination. These methods laid the foundation for a 'coded-aperture' approach applicable to conventional sources developed at UCL. Upon moving to UCL, Sandro played a crucial role in developing an in vivo phase contrast mammography system for human patients using synchrotron radiation at ELETTRA, a unique facility in the world.

Research Interests

Experience