About Uvisa

Uvisa is delivering the high-quality and innovative healthcare that women have lacked access to for far too long. 

Despite the significant advances in medicine and technology in the last century, the world has failed to give sufficient attention to health issues specific to women. This includes conditions that can only affect a female body, as well as issues that affect women differently to men. We want to play a part in helping to correct this by conducting much needed research that will allow us to develop new solutions to common health problems that are still viewed as taboo, such as vaginal discomfort caused by common infections like bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).

We want to open conversations around these topics to help women, and those with vaginas, feel less embarrassment, shame, uncertainty and fear; to ensure that they have access to accurate, relevant and useful information; to create a sense of belonging and community; and to empower them to seek out help if needed so that they can ensure that their health is taken seriously and handled in the best way possible.

We believe that pharmaceutical products have a place, and that for many health issues there really is no alternative. However, we also believe that there are sometimes other options which do not require our bodies to be pumped full of man-made compounds (which until recently had not even been properly tested on women!), that can help us to heal in a more natural and healthy way. Which is why we have set out on the mission to benefit women, and those with vaginas, by offering suitable alternatives to antimicrobial pharmaceuticals for the issue of vaginal discomfort.

‍We believe that women deserve the best healthcare modern technology can offer, and it’s long overdue!

Meet the Team

Ella Harris
Founder & CEO
Ella is driven and dedicated with a proven track record in business development and product management. Following a higher education in the life sciences, Ella went on to gain over 12 years of commercial experience in various technology companies within the pharmaceutical and education sectors. In this period she gained a reputation as an expert communicator, inspiring innovator, and agile leader, before moving into entrepreneurship.

As a passionate feminist, when presented with an opportunity to build on pivotal research conducted in collaboration between two of Denmark’s most prestigious universities, and use this to form the basis of a groundbreaking women’s health company, she could not resist. Ella has since set out to forge a novel and innovative treatment for vaginal infections and accelerate advances in women’s healthcare.

Since starting Uvisa, Ella, along with the rest of the team, have won several competitions and awards of recognition within both the Danish entrepreneurship ecosystem and further afield. These include the Venture Cup Health Category 2021, Plougmann Vingtoft “IP Matters” Competition 2021, PDMA Global Student Innovation Challenge 2021, DTU X-Tech Final December 2021, the BII Sten Scheibye Award 2022, and were a finalist in the Danish Tech Challenge 2022. She has also established research partnerships with key opinion leaders at Statens Serum Institut, Region Hovedstaden, and København Universitet. While founding Uvisa, she completed an MSc. in Technology Entrepreneurship at Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU).

Sonal Pendharkar Kulkarni
Chief Scientific Officer‍‍Sonal is a research scientist with entrepreneurial passion, driven by an ambition to advance Women's health through innovation. She holds a PhD in Medical Science from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.

Her research focused on the vaginal microbiome in Scandinavian and South African women. She investigated the effects of combining probiotics with the standard treatment on the vaginal microbiome, the cure rate & delay in relapse, and engineering lactobacilli for the production of antimicrobials. She has gained valuable experience in the role of Chief Product Officer and Medical Science Lead at Briota Technologies, which is a digital health and wellness company that creates tech solutions for the management of pulmonary diseases. During her tenure at the very early phase of the company, she led product development that catered to Danish and European needs and led the clinical study planning phase while establishing the first KOL/PI network for conducting clinical trials in Denmark. Sonal is using her extensive knowledge of the vaginal microbiome and experience with healthcare technology and clinical trials to help Uvisa develop a non-pharmacological treatment for vaginal infections.

Christian ThamsHead of Design ‍Christian is an Industrial Designer with experience developing innovative solutions for leading brands in Denmark. Throughout his career he has combined new technologies with poetry to make things people love. Joining Uvisa Health to oversee mechanical development and design activities conducted within the company.

After studying a Bachelors in Product Design Engineering and Masters in Industrial Design, he worked with companies such as IDEO, Bang & Olufsen, Soundboks and Danish Design Center. He later went on to freelance while developing his own design ethos with a focus on sustainable development and circular economies. In his spare time he explores music, indulges in art and discovering new experiences through cultural participation. Christian will apply his experience working on innovative solutions to create a great leap forward for women’s health.

Meet our Medical Advisors

Dr. Thor HaahrChief Medical Advisor‍‍Thor is a medical doctor (MD), PhD at Aarhus University Hospital who is specialising in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and is the co-author of national guidelines on gynaecological infections.

His research mainly focuses on genital tract microbiota before and during pregnancy. He investigates how the vaginal microbiota affects fertility, preterm birth, and neonatal health. Thor also engages in research collaborations both nationally and internationally and he is involved in several ongoing clinical studies.

Dr. Ellen Løkkegaard
Medical Advisor‍‍Ellen is a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Copenhagen University and a Coordinating Professor at Nordsjællands Hospital. She is also the Chair of The Women, Child, Adolescent Cluster at North Zealand Hospital.

Ellen’s research delves into multiple areas, including the risks by interventions in gynecology and obstetrics, i.e. hormonal contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, induction of labor, cesarean delivery, physical activity in pregnancy and hysterectomy. She has contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles.

Meet the Board

Karoline Akerjordet (Chair)
Karoline has more than 15 years’ experience in the life science industry covering both sales, marketing, quality, business development and executive management. She was also COO and CEO for the Swedish FemTech company Pharmiva and part of taking the company to the stock market and launching their first product.

Originally trained in Molecular Biology, Karoline also has several years’ experience in the international market both as Sales Manager and Chair for a global workgroup in an international biotech association, and 6 years’ experience working in politics. These experiences, together with her longstanding career within life sciences, provide a deep insight into business development and executive management and a unique understanding of women's health. Today she is director at Novo Nordisk, part of Uvisas Board of Directors and advisor to Vera Invest.

Jens Wiersøe
Jens has over 30 years’ of operational experience in IVD and medical devices, with a focus on innovation, quality assurance (QA), and regulatory compliance. He is an experienced manager with a solid international track record of driving and developing businesses.

An electrical engineer by training, Jens has had a long and fruitful career spanning multiple Global organisations and several countries. He has previously held the roles of VP Global QA/RA, R&D Manager, Lean Agent, Director of Operations and as a consultant, and so specialises in gap and risk analyses, lean product development, process improvement, program management and both EU and US medical device regulatory compliance. He has a passion for doing things simply and effectively, whilst reducing inefficiencies and waste.