Pennovation Works is home to an exciting mix of startups, research initiatives, and innovative companies. In this Meet the Innovator series, we will be introducing you to a member of the Pennovation Works community through a Q&A spotlight.
This spotlight is with Georgia Griggs of Avisi Technologies. Avisi Technologies is creating a next-generation aqueous shunt to treat glaucoma. Their device, the VisiPlate, is 20x thinner than a human hair and made of alumina, making it long-lasting and decreasing procedure time. Avisi is a member of the Pennovation Center, where they have a Startup Garage and lab bench since July 2018. Avisi has won the Y-Prize and President’s Innovation Prize from the University of Pennsylvania, and they are currently a resident company at the JPOD @ Philadelphia.
What is your current position at Avisi and how long have you been with the company?
I’m the Director of Device Engineering at Avisi Technologies. I’ve been in the role for one year and came on as the PI for our NSF SBIR Phase I grant.
What do you find to be most rewarding about your work? The most challenging?
My work involves designing, manufacturing, testing, and improving our nanotechnology
enabled implant. It’s most rewarding when my designs lead to good performance; it gets
me excited for the potential positive clinical outcomes.
The most challenging part, for me, has been familiarizing myself and growing in the
medical device manufacturing space. VisiPlate is Avisi’s first medical device and getting a device from design to clinic takes time and experience, so this year I’ve been learning and growing in macro regulatory aspects while also developing VisiPlate at the nanolevel.
Do you have any key mentors or people who have deeply influenced you?
Dr. Gerald Lopez at the Singh Center for Nanotechnology, where I manufacture
VisiPlate, influenced me into getting involved in fabrication and provides continued support for me and the team.
How would people in your life describe you?
Problem solver & extroverted
What does the Pennovation community mean to you?
It means that whatever type of problem me or the team has, technical or not, there are
fellow entrepreneurs in the community who have either gone through it themselves or can offer stellar guidance and support. It also is great just learning about everyone’s companies and attending events. We’re really lucky to be in this space, and hope to return to the office soon.
Lightning Round:
Favorite season: Spring
Favorite subject in school: History
Go-to karaoke song: Dreams by the Cranberries
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life? Bradley Cooper
What did you want to be when you grew up? Camp counselor
