720122Project to develop a prototype of a smart scalp cooler to prevent chemotherapy induced hair loss by employing targeted cooling regimes based upon in vitro cell scienceClosedGRD Development of PrototypeInnovate UKAside from the trauma of coping with the disease itself, hair-loss induced by chemotherapy remains the most distressing psychological impact that cancer patients will endure. Hair loss is a constant reminder of the disease and is often perceived as a source of shame and stigma. Chemotherapy-induced-alopecia occurs because chemotherapy drugs are designed to target rapidly dividing cells. Unfortunately, at any given time, 90% of hair follicles are also in the division phase. Hair loss occurs due to the partial or total atrophy of the hair root bulb causing constriction of the hair shaft which may then break off easily. Paxman Coolers manufactures specialist scalp cooling equipment that is designed to prevent such hair loss. This system operates by circulating a cooled liquid to a specially designed flexible silicone cap via flexible cooling lines: this cap reduces scalp temperature. This temperature reduction creates a restriction in the amount of blood reaching the hair follicles thereby protecting them from the effects of the concentrated chemotherapy drugs in the blood stream. Comprehensive clinical and academic studies have shown that this therapy has had a significant impact on the prevention of hair loss in patients: showed rates in the range 70% to 90% reporting hair loss to such low extent that no wig or head cover was required following treatment. However, these studies also show that the performance of the system is strongly dependent upon the regime of chemotherapy being employed (as low as 8%) and the ethnicity of the patient. This significantly restricts the total capability and market size of the system. This project proposes to develop a prototype of a smart cooling system capable of achieving 90% success across all ethnicities and chemotherapy regimes. It will achieve this by applying fundamental research at the cellular level to develop scalp cooling models and regimes tailored to the patient being treated and the chemo regime being used.