Olivia Humphreys
Limerick woman Olivia Humphreys discusses how her invention ‘Athena’ is helping people going through chemotherapy treatment retain a sense of self.
As explained by recent national James Dyson Award winner Olivia Humphreys, scalp cooling devices are used by chemotherapy patients to constrict blood vessels and limit the amount of drugs that can reach hair follicles, in an effort to reduce treatment related hair loss and improve quality of life.
In 2019, when Humphreys’ mother was undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer, the UL student noticed that limited access to scalp cooling therapy was an issue faced by many going through such treatment in Ireland, despite high demand. Just last year Green Party Senators put forth a motion asking the Irish Government to extend scalp cooling technology to more of the country’s public hospitals.
“Athena addresses a significant need in Ireland, where scalp cooling is available in only 8 hospitals,” Humphrey told SiliconRepublic.com. “I aimed to create a more accessible and user-friendly solution. Athena is designed to be simple and consumer-driven, allowing patients to manage it themselves.”
Using inexpensive thermoelectric components, not unlike those you see in refrigerated vans, Athena circulates cold water through a lightweight silicone headpiece. The portable battery, which lasts for 3.5 hours enables the user to power it up on the way to the hospital and also to remain mobile during what is often a long and uncomfortable day of treatment.
Taking its name from the powerful Greek Goddess of wisdom and battle strategy, for Humphreys, Athena is a symbol of resilience, which is a quality often seen in those living with an illness as serious as cancer and going through the necessary treatments. “The idea of creating something tangible that could help people really resonated with me,” she said.
Craving control
Many illnesses can make you feel as though your life is spiralling out of your control, with Humphreys noting that a sense of self is often lost during chemotherapy. Maintaining your version of normalcy becomes increasingly more important and changes, such as the extreme hair loss typically associated with certain chemotherapy drugs, can be devastating.
“Athena provides a sense of motivation by helping to preserve a part of oneself during treatment, which can be deeply empowering when chemotherapy takes so much. It can be an uncomfortable process, but if used by multiple people, it could create a sense of community, allowing patients to connect and support each other.”
“Additionally, Athena aids in recovery by minimising hair loss during treatment and promoting hair regrowth afterwards, helping individuals recover, as there is less of a reminder of what they have been through every time they look in the mirror.”
Depending on the form of the disease and the necessary treatment, a chemotherapy session can take minutes or even consecutives days across several months, resulting in patients spending a significant amount of their time in hospitals. Due to its flexibility and mobility, Athena can give people a sense of control when it feels as though they have very little.
“Whether it’s trying on the device at home the night before to get used to it or being able to manage this aspect of treatment themselves, my goal was to offer some stability and comfort,” she explained.
As it stands in Ireland, current scalp cooling products are around €20,000, sometimes more and according to Green Senator Róisín Garvey, installing them in the 26 hospitals that are in need, would require an installation fee of €380,000. By comparison, Athena can be built for roughly €1,000 and wouldn’t require installation within the hospital, as patients can apply treatment at home or even in the car.
Future plans
Currently working at Luminate Medical, a Galway-based research and development company that is developing a similar product to Athena using different technology, Humphreys is helping to advance their projects and intends to launch a clinical trial later this year.
“My main focus is on advancing the product as quickly as possible, with the goal of getting it to market and into the hands of those who need it. This involves a variety of tasks, including research, ordering materials, prototyping, testing and refining. It’s a fast-paced, dynamic role, but it’s incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.”
In Greek mythology the Goddess Athena was said to be Zeus’ most powerful child and certainly Humphreys is innovating a future in which her Athena can give people living with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy a greater quality of life.
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