Behind the name Uterome Biomedical stands Helena, Maya, and Annemette. Three friends who met each other during their studies at DTU.
“We are three passionate female founders behind Uterome Biomedical. Maya and Annemette are currently pursuing their master’s degrees in Biotechnology at DTU, while I recently completed my master’s in Pharmaceutical Design and Engineering, also from DTU,” says Helena Højsted Eriksen, co-founder of Uterome Biomedical.
The concept for the femtech startup took its first steps last summer after the publication of a new study on the vaginal microbiome and its link to endometriosis.
“As we delved into more existing research and attended the Medical Valley Alliance for Women’s Health Network on endometriosis, we quickly identified a significant gap in the market,” says Helena.
Validation as a catalyst
During a biotechnology innovation course, the three students presented their initial idea behind Uterome Biomedical to DTU professor John Woodley and the Principal of Women’s Health at the BioInnovation Institute (BII), Johanna Roostalu, who validated the idea and made the three founders start their entrepreneurial journey.
“During our time in Biobusiness and Process Innovation, we presented the idea of developing a diagnostic tool based on biomarkers in the vaginal microbiome to Prof. John Woodley, and the Principal of Women’s Health at BII, Johanna Roostalu. The positive feedback we received encouraged us to explore the potential of our idea as a business. This validation was the catalyst for us to take the next step and establish Uterome Biomedical,” explains Helena.
Standard diagnostics are inaccurate
There is no known cure for endometriosis, and the need for early detection is still important, as the treatment of the condition relies on controlling the symptoms.
“The current gold standard for diagnosis is laparoscopy combined with histology. These tools are not only expensive and invasive, but they are also frequently inaccurate, as endometriosis tissue can grow behind the gut or other organs, making it difficult to detect,” explains Annemette Tengstedt Rasmussen, co-founder of Uterome Biomedical.
Besides developing a more accurate diagnostic tool, Annemette Tengstedt Rasmussen, Helena Højsted Eriksen, and Maya Zagouri are dedicated to raising awareness and removing the stigma surrounding women’s pain. They aim to challenge the misconception that menstrual pain is 'normal' or should be tolerated, highlighting that conditions like endometriosis can cause severe, debilitating pain that deserves proper attention and care.
“We are committed to ending the historical neglect of women’s health issues by creating a more effective, non-invasive diagnostic method that can transform lives and promote health equality,” Annemette adds.
From classroom to business creation
The transition from a classroom project to a real-world startup has been significantly supported by funding partners in the soft funding program, “Skylab Funding”, from DTU Skylab, DTU’s hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Skylab has been instrumental in our journey from concept to startup. Here, we have received invaluable support through Health Innovators, one-on-one sparring sessions, and entrepreneurship workshops tailored to our specific needs. This guidance has been crucial in helping us navigate the challenges of starting a business,” says Maya Zagouri, co-founder of Uterome Biomedical.
In the first half of 2024, Annemette, Helena, and Maya received a grant of 50.000DKK from the Skylab Funding Partner, BioInnovation Institute. A grant which has helped the wheels run in the femtech startup.
“The initial funding we received has enabled us to begin in vitro validating our binding proteins that will be used in the diagnostic test, a critical first step in our development process. While our long-term goal is to develop a diagnostic tool that can accurately detect endometriosis, we are currently focusing on validating the biomarkers and binding proteins that will be used in this diagnostic test. This validation is a critical early step in ensuring that the test will perform reliably in the future,” explains Maya.
Next steps
The team is currently planning out the next steps for their startup. While the future creation of a Danish CVR number (Business Registration Number) will mark the official public registration of the company, their immediate focus is on validating the binding proteins that will be used in the diagnostic test. This foundational work is critical in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the future diagnostic tool.
Follow the startup team on LinkedIn
here for updates on their progression.
