Lucy (Soo Min) Jung
Parkinson’s disease is defined by symptoms affecting movement, from tremors to tense muscles. What if there was a way to reduce these? Now, thanks to Charco Neurotech, there is. Lucy Jung’s company has created a non-invasive device which is changing lives, making significant strides in the MedTech industry and securing an impressive number of partnerships.
Lucy’s journey to success hasn’t been straightforward. If you ask her to go back to tell her story, she explains how she completed her undergraduate studies in industrial and information design in South Korea. Lucy says: “My studies focused on user experience, identifying problems and solving issues”. She then developed her skills further by training with the Samsung Design Membership.
Soon after, she had an opportunity she couldn’t turn down – to go to London to work for a design consultancy, where she was involved in numerous projects related to medical devices. Seeing how these devices were built to help people, she fell in love with this area of medical technology and innovation. Lucy explains: “I felt the need to study more and started to look for courses.”
Lucy during her Innovation Design Engineering studies in 2014
Lucy during her Innovation Design Engineering studies in 2014
A difficult journey
Lucy started MSc Innovation Design Engineering in 2013 at Imperial, taught in collaboration with the Royal College of Art. She had the opportunity to work on various projects for people with long-term conditions including creating “bruise trousers” to enable people with paralysis to detect potential injuries, and the “ARC pen” to enable people with Parkinson’s to write clearer and bigger.
However, Lucy had to put her studies on pause.
I found myself going through a very challenging diagnosis and complicated investigation. Being a patient, I realised just how important the work of researchers and product developers is. I wasn’t going to stop there, but make it happen.
During this time away from her studies, Lucy also had two children. Still, she was unstoppable and returned to finish her studies at Imperial as planned. Lucy adds: “Imperial were very understanding. Usually, you can only delay your studies by a certain amount of time, but they allowed me to come back and were incredibly supportive. I was able to recover from brain surgery and look after kids while I continued my research.”
Lucy with her children
Lucy with her children
At this point, Lucy started looking into Parkinson's disease and whether a device could be created to help patients manage symptoms. She carried out research and began to develop what is now the CUE device.
CUE offers a non-invasive vibrotactile stimulation, a method that has shown promising results in clinical studies for enhancing motor control. It’s a complementary solution that can be used alongside medication to improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s.
Charco Neurotech's CUE device
Charco Neurotech's CUE device
Support from the Imperial Enterprise Lab
As Lucy prepared to graduate, she asked herself, “Where do we go from here?” And this is when she met her mentor from the Imperial Enterprise Lab. The first step was to complete a programme that would help her assess whether the idea had potential and if she had the skills to bring it to life.
“I met my mentor (who later became our chairman, then a board member). He really inspired me and taught me how to build the company to bring innovation to real life to make a true impact.”
Her company, Charco Neurotech, was born. Her mission now was to get the device to the people who needed it.
Early days of Charco Neurotech when the team joined a charity walk alongside users of the CUE1 product
Early days of Charco Neurotech when the team joined a charity walk alongside users of the CUE1 product
Over £14 million of investment
Charco Neurotech has carried out extensive user testing and clinical trials to validate the efficacy of the CUE device. These trials have consistently shown the device's potential to improve quality of life. Charco Neurotech has also established strategic partnerships with research institutions, healthcare providers, and industry experts.
The company secured over £14 million through grants, angel investors, and institutional investments.
Prototyping with people with Parkinson's
Prototyping with people with Parkinson's
Charco Neurotech has seen growing adoption among people with Parkinson’s. She has received user testimonials and case studies highlighting significant improvements in motor function and quality of life, providing compelling evidence of the device’s real-world benefits.
Learning from patients
For Lucy, interacting with people with Parkinson’s and their families has been key. She explains: “I wrote my dissertation on long-term, rare conditions before going through my surgery. After, I realised how little I had known and I was eager to go beyond a textbook-driven approach.
Patients who are living with a condition are the experts. They are able to articulate the issues they are facing much better than the people around them.
While developing the device, Lucy visited a lot of people suffering from the disease. Lucy shares: “When you see how much impact it’s making, it’s hard to put that feeling into words. The people tell me about the improvements to their movement and all they can do thanks to the device.” She also emphasises the importance of doing this to help bridge the gap between research and real life.
Collaborating with people with Parkinson’s for better product solutions
Collaborating with people with Parkinson’s for better product solutions
You’d think Lucy would feel proud of how far she’s come, but it’s actually the opposite. She admits: “It’s very difficult to feel proud. Because when you see someone who is benefitting from the device, you want to make sure more people have access to it as soon as possible. And that comes with pressure.”
By fostering partnerships with patient groups, clinicians, and healthcare organisations, Lucy has helped build a community focused on improving Parkinson’s care. This approach not only improves Charco Neurotech’s solutions but also creates a supportive network for patients and their families.
User testing at Charco Neurotech
User testing at Charco Neurotech
What makes an entrepreneur?
Lucy didn’t ever see herself becoming a CEO. Before her illness, she planned to stay in academia and wanted to become a lecturer. When she met her mentor, she told him, “I don’t know if I’m the right person to become a CEO.”
My mentor asked me what I thought made a good entrepreneur. I came up with three things – a clear vision, persistence and taking responsibility.
When her mentor agreed that’s what makes not only a good CEO but a great CEO, her perspective shifted. She embraced learning how to run a business, from accounting to legal requirements. Lucy says: “It was a transformative time for me to have that mindset change. Everything I was doing was part of working towards our vision and mission.
Lucy remembers reading Screw It, Let’s Do It by Richard Branson. It helped her realise that a lot of people hesitate and never take the leap. “Risk taking is challenging but there’s nothing more meaningful than working towards something you believe in.”
Lucy would tell others: “Just keep going and be persistent.”
Looking to the future
Where does Lucy see herself in the future? Throughout her career, she has met many people experiencing neurological disorders and mental health issues, which has inspired her next venture. “I’m trying to understand why the number of these conditions - including PTSD, panic attacks, depression and anxiety - is on the rise so have set up a medical innovation company, LYEONS Limited.”
With the support of her team, she hopes to help hundreds of millions around the world affected. She’ll be exploring how technology can support wider society, envisioning new ways it can help people spend more time living fully.
Lucy with a fellow founder at Cambridge Judge Business School
Lucy with a fellow founder at Cambridge Judge Business School
Impressive list of accolades
Lucy is a role model for women in STEM and an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs. She has received various awards and recognition, including the MedTech Super Connector Research Associate grant and the Royal Academy of Engineering Shotts Scale-Up grant to extend her EMBA at Harvard Business School.
In 2022, she became the Judge Business School’s youngest-ever Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, and Charco Neurotech was awarded MedTech Startup of the Year at the UK Enterprise Awards.
Her success and visibility in a male-dominated field inspire young women and demonstrate that leadership and innovation are attainable goals regardless of gender.
Lucy receiving awards in recognition of her work and contributions
Lucy receiving awards in recognition of her work and contributions
Helping other founders is important to her. Lucy wants to help other people go out and achieve incredible things too. One of the ways she is doing this is through her continued support for the Imperial community. She contributes to the university by volunteering her time to support students and alumni. This includes sharing her experience in MedTech and entrepreneurship, giving guest lectures and participating in events.
I don’t even feel like I’ve graduated if I’m honest. I seem to go back every week – I’m constantly getting advice from the Enterprise Lab, Dyson School of Design Engineering and other departments.
Lucy is also providing placement opportunities for eleven students, which has led to four students securing full-time jobs at the company. For Lucy, she believes her committed team has been key to the company's success.
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Imperial's Alumni Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of our alumni community and the variety of ways they are making a real impact across the globe.
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