‘Just Keep Building’: Palo Alto Student Myra Saxena Makes Waves in Health Technology
By Lisa Moreno, July 25, 2025
PALO ALTO — At just 11 years old and freshly graduated from Herbert Hoover Elementary, Myra Saxena is already making significant strides in the world of health technology. This young innovator recently showcased her groundbreaking diabetes-prevention technology at the National Invention Convention, standing out among 200,000 applicants nationwide.
Early Start in Coding Fuels Passion for Health
Myra’s journey began at the tender age of eight when she started learning to code, despite skepticism from some who felt she was too young. Defying doubts, she developed a steadfast motto: “Never give up, even if people tell you that you can’t do it or you’re too young. It’s never too late or too early to start.”
Her passion was deeply personal. “I started building this product because I lost my grandpa to diabetes, and this made me want to help kids prevent Type Two Diabetes early,” she explained. Combining her coding skills and desire to help, Myra embarked on developing “Healthy Littles powered by SmartGenes,” an app and wearable device designed to help children reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Developing Healthy Littles: A Multi-Year Effort
What began as simple exercise videos and healthy recipe ideas evolved through multiple prototypes—four, five, maybe six, said Myra. Later iterations included educational materials on body and bone structure, macro-tracking, and more.
Encouraged by positive feedback at school and regional invention conventions, Myra continued refining her product, ultimately earning a spot to present at the prestigious National Invention Convention in June. She was the only student from the Palo Alto Unified School District selected among 490 K-12 students nationally.
Innovating with SmartGenes Wearable Technology
A critical breakthrough came when Myra learned there was no existing way to predict a child’s genetic risk score (GRS) for diabetes. To bridge this gap, she created the SmartGenes wearable device, which uses pulse sensors to monitor heart rate and collect health data to analyze a child’s risk of developing diabetes.
“Myra’s device is not just technologically impressive but also carries deep potential for public health,” noted Dr. Risa Wolfe, a pediatrician leading diabetes research at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Wolfe, who has tested the device among others, praised Myra as “an amazing, entrepreneurial, high-tech-building child” with “the values of kindness and philanthropy in mind from such a young age.”
Recognized Nationally and Globally for Innovation
Beyond the National Invention Convention, Healthy Littles took first place in the 2025 World Series of Innovation Imagination League Challenge, a global competition aimed at elementary school inventors. The accomplishment underscores Myra’s commitment and the promise of her innovation.
She also collaborates with leading hospitals including Stanford Health, furthering the device’s development and validation.
Giving Back and Inspiring the Next Generation
Looking ahead, Myra is eager to enhance Healthy Littles with new features and expand its reach. Besides her product development, she’s dedicating efforts to empower other young inventors locally. Together with Brenda Payne, a California Invention Convention board member, Myra is working to establish a regional student ambassador program aimed at increasing awareness and participation in invention initiatives.
“I’ve learned over the years to just keep building,” Myra said, reflecting on her journey. In sixth grade, she hopes to take a leadership role in this outreach, spreading the word to school boards, principals, teachers, and students across the community.
A Bright Future for Health and Technology
From a young coder to a nationally recognized inventor, Myra Saxena exemplifies how curiosity, perseverance, and compassion can combine to create meaningful change. Her story continues to inspire others in Palo Alto and beyond, proving it’s never too early to start building a better future.
For more information about the National Invention Convention, Healthy Littles, and upcoming local invention programs, visit Palo Alto Online.
