24-year-old Limerick lady Olivia Humphreys created Athena, a portable, patient-managed, scalp-cooling device to help reduce hair loss for those going through chemotherapy.
Here, she tells us more…
Olivia,how exactly does Athena work?
It uses cooling technology to constrict the blood vessels in the scalp, which reduces the amount of chemotherapy drug that can reach the hair follicles. This helps prevent damage to the follicles, ultimately minimising hair loss. Unlike traditional hospital-based scalp cooling machines, Athena is low-cost and designed to be used at home, making it more accessible for patients.
Talk to us about the inspiration behind it.
My mum’s experience with cancer was a big driving force. When she had chemotherapy in 2019 after being diagnosed with breast cancer, I saw first-hand how hair loss affected her emotionally—it wasn’t just about appearance, it was about control and identity.
So how did you create this? What sort of work went into it?
The process started with a lot of research, understanding chemotherapy’s effects on hair follicles and how existing scalp cooling worked. From there, I built early prototypes and constantly refined based on feedback. There was also a huge focus on making sure it was comfortable and easy for patients to use on their own. Over time, Athena evolved from sketches and rough prototypes into something that had the potential to become a reality.
Is it available now for people to use, or how close is it to being on the market?
I’ve become a part of Luminate Medical, a medtech startup focused on a similar solution. Since I started there, I’ve witnessed Lily [their equivalent to Athena] evolve into a developed product, and it is now undergoing clinical trials. We are actively working to make it available as soon as possible within the next year.
What are your next steps?
At Luminate, I’m now working on developing not just scalp cooling, but also other medical devices aimed at reducing chemotherapy side effects. One of our key focuses is neuropathy, a condition that affects the nerves in patients undergoing chemotherapy. My role as an R&D engineer means I’m constantly innovating, testing, and refining solutions to improve patients’ quality of life.
You must be so proud to have created this.
Absolutely. The most rewarding part is hearing from patients and families who say, “I wish this existed when I was going through treatment.” It reinforces why I started this journey in the first place. Knowing that something I’ve worked on could make someone’s experience with cancer just a little bit easier is incredibly fulfilling.