Shining a Light on Vaginal Infections & Vaginal Health at Home with Ella Harris & Dr. Sonal Pendharkar Kulkarni of UVISA

Welcome back to Business of the V! If you are a woman, know a woman, have a business, or care about your v health and wellness, this is the podcast for you.

This is Episode #117 and you’ll hear Co-Hosts Dr. Alyssa Dweck & Rachel Braun Scherl interview Ella Harris, Founder & CEO, and Dr. Sonal Pendharkar Kulkarni, Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer of UVISA. Watch the video episode on YouTube and listen to the audio episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your other favorite podcast spots – follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re enjoying the show!

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Shining a Light on Vaginal Infections & Vaginal Health at Home with Ella Harris & Dr. Sonal Pendharkar Kulkarni of UVISA

What if you could rapidly relieve the symptoms of common vaginal infections like Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) & Candidiasis (Thrush) in the comfort of your own home? That is becoming a reality thanks to this week’s guests, Ella Harris, Founder & CEO, and Dr. Sonal Pendharkar Kulkarni, Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer of UVISA. Hear how UV light can destroy only the bad bacteria in vaginal infections and support the regrowth of good bacteria. You will learn how the UVISA device works, the company’s focus on user experience & comfort when it comes to vaginal health, and what’s next for UVISA as a women’s healthcare company.

This episode covers everything from vaginal microbiome science to light-based treatment plans. Here’s a small sample of what you’ll hear in this episode:

• What’s the story behind UVISA Health?

• How can light-based therapy treat vaginal infections?

• Can UV light replace or reduce antibiotic use?

• What does the regulatory and clinical pathway look like?

• What’s next for UVISA Health?

Tune in to this episode to have an up close look at a new era of vaginal infection care..

Show Notes

• Shining a Light on Vaginal Infections & Vaginal Health at Home with Ella Harris & Dr. Sonal Pendharkar Kulkarni of UVISA

• [02:05] Welcome to Business of the V

• [02:48] Learn more about Ella Harris, Dr. Sonal Pendharkar Kulkarni, UVISA, and UVISA LinkedIn

• [03:49] The origin of UVISA Health and its focus on light-based vaginal therapy

• [04:46] How UV light disrupts bacteria in biofilm form

• [05:12] Connecting postpartum vaginal health challenges to unmet clinical needs

• [06:01] How light selectively targets pathogenic microbes

• [07:17] Preserving beneficial Lactobacilli while reducing harmful bacteria

• [07:40] Whether light therapy is adjunctive or a replacement for antibiotics

• [08:34] Rebalancing the vaginal microbiome rather than sterilizing it

• [09:51] Today’s Hot Flash: UV light’s antimicrobial role in medicine

• [10:51] What treatment looks like: at-home use, comfort, and dosing

• [11:47] Recurrent infection, partner treatment, and reinfection risk

• [12:28] Potential applications for male partners

• [14:07] Expected launch timing and regulatory milestones

• [15:31] European approval, FDA De Novo pathway, and U.S. outlook

• [16:38] How UVISA Health has funded its research and development

• [18:09] Positioning UVISA Health as a holistic vaginal health company

• [20:32] How the founders met and built the company together

• [27:53] Subscribe to Business of the V and learn more at BusinessOfTheV.com 

What is Business of the V?

Dr. Alyssa Dweck & Rachel Braun Scherl are here to introduce you to the most fascinating inventors, investors, thought leaders, and healthcare professionals who are in the Business of the V. If you are a woman, know a woman, have a business, or care about your v health and wellness, this is the podcast for you.

Who are Dr. Alyssa Dweck & Rachel Braun Scherl?

Dr. Alyssa Dweck is a gynecologist, surgeon, and author. She’s an expert on V health who explores what’s on other women’s minds when it comes to periods, hormones, breasts, butts, and sex.

Rachel Braun Scherl is a marketing strategist, business builder, and vagipreneur - a person in the business of women’s sexual and reproductive health. It’s complicated!