In the competitive environment of Galway medtech innovation, a quiet revolution in healthcare is taking place. Based in the city and founded by the trailblazing Siobhán Kelleher, OnaWave Medical is emerging as a game-changing force in the world of medtech, particularly in the realm of pelvic health and hormonal conditions.
With an unwavering commitment to personalised care and non-invasive diagnostics, this company is poised to redefine how chronic endocrine and pelvic conditions—like endometriosis and subfertility—are diagnosed and managed globally.
At the heart of OnaWave Medical’s innovation is Project EndoSolve, a European Innovation Council-funded initiative that is building a digital biomarker-based risk stratification platform, alongside wearable solutions to detect pelvic conditions early, accurately, and without the need for invasive procedures. For millions of women and individuals living with unexplained pelvic pain or infertility, this technology could dramatically shorten diagnostic timelines and improve access to care.
Endometriosis alone affects approximately 1 in 10 women worldwide, yet diagnosis often takes an average of 7 to 10 years due to the lack of non-invasive tools and widespread clinical awareness. Siobhán Kelleher’s vision is to change this — “making invisible conditions visible,” as she puts it — and empowering patients and clinicians alike with accurate, real-time data for earlier intervention.
From cell biology to clinical impact
Siobhán’s path to founding OnaWave Medical is as impressive as it is inspiring. With over 20 years of experience in global pharmaceuticals and clinical trials, she has worked with giants like Novartis, Wyeth, MSD, and ICON Plc, developing strategies across therapeutic areas including cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, and women’s health.
Her academic background reflects deep scientific and clinical expertise: a PhD in Pharmacology, two MSc degrees in Cell Biology and Health Policy, and further commercial training from UCD Smurfit and the BioInnovate programme in Galway.
This combination of scientific rigour, commercial savvy, and patient-centered thinking is central to OnaWave’s DNA. Through her time in BioInnovate — a Stanford Biodesign-aligned medtech innovation programme — and clinical immersion at the Mayo Clinic, Siobhán identified persistent unmet needs in the area of pelvic health. Her solution: harness digital technology and biological data to detect hormonal imbalances and chronic inflammatory conditions earlier and more accurately.
A European-backed mission with global ambition
Backed by multiple prestigious funding bodies — including Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, and the European Research Commission — OnaWave Medical is attracting significant attention not just for its technology, but for its mission-driven ethos.
The company’s flagship project, EndoSolve, is patent-pending and developing tools that could not only aid in early diagnosis of endometriosis but may also prove effective in managing a wider range of chronic hormonal and inflammatory conditions. This includes potential applications in adolescent health, reproductive planning, and menopausal care.
The core idea is simple but powerful: hormonal health is a vital sign, and fluctuations in biological activity — which have long gone unmeasured outside specialist settings — can now be monitored non-invasively and continuously, thanks to OnaWave’s innovations.
Recognition on the world stage
In February 2025, Siobhán’s leadership was recognised internationally when she joined a select group of Irish female founders on a trade mission to the United States. Both the Acting British Consul General in New York, Melanie Hopkins OBE, and Ireland’s Consul General, Helena Nolan, praised the cohort — including Siobhán — for bringing “a positive energy and a sense of empowerment, innovation and action” to the global stage.
Such recognition underscores the broader potential of OnaWave’s work. As healthcare systems around the world seek more cost-effective, personalised, and preventative approaches to managing chronic conditions, the solutions being developed in Galway could have worldwide impact.
Looking ahead
OnaWave Medical is currently seeking strategic partnerships — from clinicians and researchers to technology developers and policy-makers — to accelerate the development and deployment of its technology. As a company grounded in science, innovation, and compassion, it’s clear that OnaWave is more than just a startup; it’s part of a movement to transform pelvic health for future generations.
In Siobhán Kelleher’s words: “We need to treat patients, not just diseases.” OnaWave Medical is doing exactly that — combining deep biological insights with cutting-edge digital tools to empower individuals, improve outcomes, and ensure that no one suffering from pelvic or hormonal conditions is left invisible ever again.
