Viktor Gruev is an associate professor in the department of Computer Science and Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. He received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering with distinction from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and completed his M.S. and PhD. in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

Viktor Gruev has received numerous awards for his research on imaging sensors and their application in the medical field. His current research focuses on bringing medical imaging technology to resources-limited hospitals and to the developing world.

Viktor draws inspiration from nature to develop more efficient and effective low-power integrated sensory systems. These imaging sensors integrate new nanomaterials with standard vision equipment, like a cell-phone camera, to create compact, ultra-sensitive imaging devices, which have pre and post-operative applications.

Drawing inspiration from the visual system of the “mantis shrimp,” which is able to detect 22 visual channels, Dr. Gruev has designed artificial material able to detect color, polarization and spectral information at high resolution in real time.

In one study, mice are injected with human cancerous tissue. Cancer is noticed within a few days, and full-blown cancer develops within 2-3 weeks. These animals are monitored and imaged periodically using Dr. Gruev’s technology, enabling the identification of cancerous cells before surgeons would typically be able to see them.

Dr. Viktor Gruev will give a high-level overview about his research and how it is being commercialized on the ‘Reaching Prosperity Through Technology and Innovation’ panel