University in Kildare congratulates student on award-winning breast cancer recovery device

A university in North Kildare has congratulated a student on her award-winning breast cancer recovery device.

Maynooth University (MU) has praised product design graduate Zoë O'Sullivan, who has been named National Winner for Ireland at the 2025 James Dyson Award for her invention, 'Lymphia'.

According to MU, 'Lymphia' is a handheld portable device that teaches and guides patients through manual lymphatic drainage massage. The device is designed to support recovery and help prevent lymphoedema, a chronic condition caused by fluid build-up following breast cancer treatment.

Zoë created Lymphia as part of the final year of her BSc in Product Design and Innovation at MU, when she was required to create an original design, which was then prototyped and manufactured on campus.

In addition, Kate Brown, another MU product design graduate, was named as runner up in the Irish category for 'Gotcha', an innovative make-up opener designed for people with limited hand or arm mobility.

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Zoë working on her project. Photograph supplied by Maynooth University and MKC Communications

Welcoming her award, Zoë O’Sullivan said: "I am thrilled about winning the national Dyson award for Lymphia."

She added: "It feels great to have my work acknowledged and so highly praised, and I am grateful for the awareness it will raise about lymphoedema and breast cancer."

HOW IT WORKS

Breast cancer treatment often damages or removes lymph nodes, putting patients at high risk of lymphoedema.

If untreated, lymphoedema can become a lifelong condition.

By providing accurate, real-time feedback, the device enables patients to perform genuine Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) at home, reducing reliance on physiotherapists, conflicting online information, and trial-and-error approaches.

And now, Zoë plans to use the prize money from the award to fund a patent application for her innovative design.

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PROGRESSION

'Lymphia' is now set to progress to the international stage of the James Dyson Award.

The international top 20 shortlist will be announced on October 15, 2025 and the international winners on November 5, 2025.

Congratulating Zoë O’Sullivan, Dr Iain MacDonald, the head of the Department of Design Innovation at MU, said that Zoë "is an inspiration, who has shown the power of human-centred design to improve the lives of people, which we proudly teach at MU".

He also said that MU was "delighted" that its BSc Product Design and Innovation programme had received national and international award recognition for the second year in a row.

INFORMATION ABOUT BREAST CANCER

According to the Irish Cancer Society, breast cancer is when cells in your breast change and grow in an abnormal way.

A group of these cancer cells can then proceed to form a tumour.

Each year in Ireland, almost 3,600 women and approximately 30 men are diagnosed with breast cancer.

This form of cancer is more common in women over 50, but it can affect younger women too.

In terms of screening for breast cancer, BreastCheck is the name of the national breast screening programme.

This service offers free breast screening to women, transgender, intersex and non-binary people age 50 to 69.

It should be noted that one must be living in Ireland and have a PPS number to avail of this service.

Anyone interested in learning more about breast cancer can visit https://www.cancer.ie/cancer-information/cancer-types/breast-cancer.

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