PREVIEW

A pioneering device aimed at preventing hair loss during chemotherapy has earned a prestigious James Dyson Award.

Named Athena, this innovative tool was created by 24-year-old Irish designer Olivia Humphreys after witnessing her mother’s challenging experience with cancer treatment.

Athena has been awarded the title of Global Medical Winner. Unlike existing scalp-cooling technologies used to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy, which are often costly and require patients to remain in hospital, Athena is designed to be affordable and portable.

The device is priced at just one-twentieth of conventional systems, allowing patients to use it at home and spend less time in the hospital.
Athena works by applying scalp cooling, a technique that constricts blood vessels and reduces blood flow to the scalp, minimising hair loss. Traditional hospital equipment relies on constant power and refrigeration, but Athena operates on batteries and uses a thermoelectric cooling system, making it far more adaptable to patients' needs and lifestyles.

The James Dyson Award, an international competition for young engineers and scientists given out by legendary British entrepreneur James Dyson, has supported more than 400 inventive projects from across the globe, attracting almost 2,000 entries this year.

On winning the James Dyson Award, Olivia said: “I’m incredibly proud of the hard work, ambition, and commitment that went into creating Athena. The recognition from the James Dyson Award validates not just my efforts, but also the stories and insights shared by people who’ve experienced cancer treatment.


“My mum inspired this journey, and it’s incredibly emotional and rewarding to have my project reach this level. The Award has motivated me to recognise my potential, and it opens up exciting opportunities for me as a young designer and innovator.”

Chemotherapy-induced hair loss affects around 65-99 per cent of patients, with existing solutions being both expensive and time-consuming. In Ireland, where scalp cooling is only available in eight out of 86 hospitals, the cost of a single cooling machine is estimated at around €216,000, with additional staffing required. While manual cooling caps are a cheaper alternative, they are less effective.
Professor Mark Beresford, Consultant Oncologist at the Royal United Hospital Bath, stressed how much Olivia’s invention could help his patients.


“Hair loss is one of the most outward and distressing side effects of chemotherapy,” he explained. “Current scalp cooling techniques can reduce the risk or extent of hair loss, but need to be attached in the chemotherapy unit for a period of time before and after the chemotherapy infusion, committing patients to a long day in hospital. This new mobile version will allow patients more freedom, reclaiming some of their day, and also free-up valuable chemotherapy chair time for other patients to receive treatment.”

Olivia was motivated to develop Athena after her mother’s 2019 cancer diagnosis. Athena is a lightweight, battery-powered device that allows patients to self-administer the cooling process at home or while commuting to the hospital. Made with bright, cheerful colours to move away from clinical aesthetics, Athena symbolises resilience—a quality that Humphreys sees in patients battling cancer.
With an estimated cost of €1,000, Athena could provide an affordable solution for hair-loss prevention, making it more accessible to patients and healthcare providers alike. Humphreys aims to partner with hospitals and charities, potentially offering Athena as a rental or loan option. Her long-term vision includes exploring future technologies beyond scalp cooling to further improve hair-loss prevention for chemotherapy patients.

This James Dyson Award recognition and funding will help Humphreys move forward with her plans, advancing Athena’s development to reach the patients who need it most.