Sandra Jernström, PhD profile page

Dr. Sandra Jernström is a venture builder, life science executive, and cancer geneticist with more than 15 years of experience spanning precision medicine, advanced in vitro models, drug discovery, and biotechnology entrepreneurship. She specializes in translating cutting-edge life science innovations into commercially viable businesses by combining scientific excellence with strategic business development, fundraising, and partnership creation. Jernström is co-founder and chief business development officer at Vitroscope, where she leads business development, strategic partnerships, fundraising, and commercialization of a next-generation perfusion platform for living human tissues. Previously, she co-founded Okomera, where she helped raise more than €12 million, scaled the company from 5 to 22 employees, and established collaborations with leading pharmaceutical companies. She also serves as an industry expert at STING, one of the Nordics' leading startup ecosystems, advising research-intensive life science startups on commercialization, fundraising, and business strategy. She previously worked as a venture builder and advisor and continues to support early-stage deep-tech companies with market positioning, strategic partnerships, consortium building, non-dilutive funding, and go-to-market strategy. Jernström holds a PhD in cancer genetics from the University of Oslo and an MSc in biochemistry from Åbo Akademi University. She has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in cancer genomics, precision oncology, and advanced in vitro models. Her work has been recognized with several international awards, including winning the €100,000 SLUSH pitching competition in 2018, the Audience Choice Award at the SLAS Ignite Awards in 2023, and a finalist spot in the Women in Tech Global Startup Awards.