Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) second-year Ph.D. student Aref Valipour was awarded a GT Next Award for his MicroCodes technology, which shows utility in aiding with cellular characterization and management.

The award is given annually by the Office of Technology Licensing (OTL), recognizing the inventiveness of Georgia Tech's graduate students and postdocs. Winners submit projects that show commercial promise and a commitment to research and development that can contribute significantly to the betterment of society.

MicroCodes is comprised of a new microfabrication method and coding method. Initially developed as a facilitator in the characterization of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs), it later evolved to become a universal add-on for a number of other medical and MEMS applications.

The award acts as a direct financial investment into the future of the technology, helping to carry out different commercial processes, such as procuring materials and supplies, and carrying out customer discovery initiatives.

Valipour was one of five winners this year.

His research interests are centered around MEMS, microfabrication, bioelectronics and utilizing micro and nano engineering to understand how cancer works and how it can be managed.

He’s developed technologies and methods to characterize, monitor, and intervene in cancer to ultimately create the platform that gives an edge in the fight against cancer. To date, these efforts have resulted in seven invention disclosures to OTL, with the award-winning MicroCodes being the latest.

Valipour is currently a member of Biomedical Microsystems Laboratory. Outside of ECE, he is part of the Technology Innovation: Generating Economic Results (TI:GER) program at Scheller College of Business.