Dr. Sonal Pendharkar Kulkarni (Ph.D.) is a dedicated research scientist with an entrepreneurial mindset, committed to advancing women's health and wellbeing through innovative solutions. She earned her PhD in Medical Science from the prestigious Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, where her research focused on the vaginal microbiome in both Scandinavian and South African women. Through her research, Sonal has explored the impact of combining probiotics with standard & extended antimicrobial treatments for vaginal dysbiosis in highly recurrent cases, examining cure rates, prevention/delayed relapse, and engineering microbes to produce antiviral nanobodies. Currently, Sonal is channeling her extensive knowledge of the vaginal microbiome and her experience in healthcare technology and clinical trials into her work and driving the development of non-pharmacological treatments for vaginal infections at UVISA. Sonal herself has peer reviewed publications to her name and also contributes to the academic community by reviewing manuscripts pro bono, providing critical evaluations to maintain research quality leading to published articles. She has served as a scientific reviewer for PloS ONE, Frontiers in Physiology and JARG (Springer Nature).
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is no longer a distant threat. It’s here and it’s one of the biggest public health crises of our time. The ability to treat infections with antibiotics was once a medical breakthrough but today, resistant bacteria, fungi, and viruses are making common infections harder to cure, putting millions of lives at risk each year.
Light therapy might seem futuristic, but its healing power has been known for centuries. From ancient sun worship, to scientific breakthroughs, this technology has transformed again and again. Yet, its full potential is only just being unlocked.
Your vaginal microbiome might not get much attention, but it plays a huge role in your overall health. This delicate ecosystem of bacteria keeps your vagina healthy and protected from infections – but it’s all about striking a balance.
