Professional Researchers, Driven by Patient Experience
Born out of personal experience and frustration with a lack of reliable information on a prominent issue in women’s health, Live UTI Free began as an information hub for all things UTI.
Over the years, we have evolved into an international team of researchers who fill gaps in UTI science, advocate for patients, nurture a caring community, and pursue evidence-backed solutions to a (still) severely under-researched topic.
We are the team behind Live UTI Free, and we do this because women deserve better.
You are not alone
Who We Are
Multinational Patient Research
Global Women’s Health Education
Providing accessible women’s health education to patients and health care providers in 10+ languages
Fully Independent
An independent social enterprise committed to good science with academic, non-profit, and commercial collaborators
Our Founder
PhD
After recovering from a recurrent UTI that led to long-term chronic symptoms, Melissa founded Live UTI Free, a patient research and education organization focused on improving outcomes by sharing crucial information to help others find better UTI testing and treatment.
Through her own research, her work with the patient community, and the extensive research of her team, the organization has developed an extensive network of researchers, clinicians, and like-minded organizations. Melissa is always happy to hear from anyone working to address the gaps in women’s health research.
Why We Created This Website
Chronic or recurrent UTIs affect millions of females and may be caused by an underlying bladder infection that goes undiagnosed and ineffectively treated.
The right information can lead to better testing to identify the cause of the symptoms and, ultimately, to finding a permanent solution. That’s where we come in.
Our Inclusive Policy
How You Can Get Involved
Our Research & Operations Team
PhD, CPsychol
Clinical Research Director
Katherine’s research interests focus on the challenge of maintaining quality of life in the face of chronic health conditions. Recognising the complexity of this challenge in chronic and recurrent UTI is what motivated Katherine to join the team at Live UTI Free.
As a Chartered Psychologist at the University of Reading, Katherine specialises in developing interventions to support patients and healthcare professionals in managing UTI and its psychosocial impact. She is committed to creating high-quality UTI impact assessment tools and improving how we support people with UTI within and beyond our health services.
PhD, CPsychol
Director of Research
Abbi’s passion for driving research that brings about real change in underserved areas, particularly for people living with long-term chronic health conditions, inspired her to join the Live UTI Free team.
Having completed her PhD in psychology, Abbi is determined to lead high-quality research that places patient perspectives at the forefront. Her work spans women’s health and chronic pelvic pain, with a particular interest in the psychological impact of diagnostic uncertainty on those living with complex, poorly understood conditions. Her ultimate goal is to enhance quality of life outcomes and reduce the challenges faced by those living with recurrent and chronic UTI.
BSc
Project Specialist
Josie discovered Live UTI Free while navigating her own struggles with recurrent UTIs. When the opportunity came up to support LUF’s projects, she was eager to apply her business and project management background to help promote the organization’s mission.
Now she works alongside a community of passionate women’s health advocates to facilitate further research on this condition, increase awareness, and become a voice for patient advocacy.
BMC
Content & Advocacy Specialist
Melissa’s own journey with recurrent UTI really impacted her life and affected her overall productivity. She came across the stories of others on Live UTI Free, who had been through similar experiences and managed to break the cycle.
She was motivated to help, and to use her skills in visual communication to spread awareness of an otherwise overlooked female health problem.
BSc
Founder & Product Lead
Emil has co-founded, built, and supported business and impact organizations in 30+ countries. He helped found Live UTI Free out of a profound frustration with gender inequality in health care, and a desire to support women suffering from curable diseases.
As Product Lead, Emil has led design and management of the Live UTI Free platform since day one, and continues to ensure its success and availability to the world at large.
MSc Psych
Senior Research Associate
Molly is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Reading, building on her background in MSc Health Psychology. She has a keen passion for increasing awareness around women’s health issues and reducing stigma associated with them. Alongside her PhD, Molly is gaining valuable experience at Live UTI Free, where she manages research studies and projects aimed at improving patient education.
Through the world of women’s health, Molly aspires to make a meaningful impact by enhancing the overall patient experience and empowering women to fulfill their personal wellbeing.
DipEdHC
Director, Ireland
Due to having suffered with recurrent, and eventually chronic, UTI for many years, Saoirse feels passionately about being able to help and support others dealing with this condition. She knows first hand how frightening and lonely it can feel to develop a condition and not have good access to answers and treatment.
She found help through the Live UTI Free website in 2019 and since seeking treatment, her symptoms have improved immensely. This has given her back time and energy – which she is investing towards helping and supporting this community and becoming an active voice in patient advocacy.
MRes
Data & Patient Advocacy Specialist
Bianca is currently pursuing a PhD in cognitive neuroscience at the Max Planck School of Cognition in Germany, driven by a passion for advancing women’s health. Recognizing critical gaps in knowledge about the female body, she joined the Live UTI Free team to make a tangible impact through research and patient advocacy.
Bianca’s work at Live UTI Free involves analyzing patient-driven data, while her own experience with UTIs deepens her commitment to helping others with recurrent and chronic conditions share their stories.
PhD
Senior Research Associate
Lydia’s research focuses on understanding complex chronic health conditions and improving how patients’ symptoms, experiences, and quality of life are recognized and measured. Having completed her PhD in Psychology at the University of Reading, Lydia has a background in health psychology, behavioral science, intervention development, and chronic pain research, with interests spanning trauma-informed care and the interaction between psychological and neurobiological processes.
Her recent work has focused on recurrent UTI, symptom measurement, and patient-reported outcomes. She is particularly interested in translating research into clear, useful information that helps patients better understand their symptoms, ask informed questions, and advocate for appropriate care.
MSc
Research Associate
Zuzanna’s drive to close the gaps in women’s healthcare access and knowledge led her to join Live UTI Free. She is passionate about reshaping the conversation around women’s health and contributing to research that leads to earlier interventions, better care, and a stronger voice for those affected by recurrent UTIs. Zuzanna was drawn to Live UTI Free’s patient-centered mission and commitment to transforming women’s health research.
Currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Reading, she is researching at-risk profiles for urinary tract infections, working to illuminate patterns that have been overlooked.
BA, CPACC, IAAP
Head of Design, Brand & Accessibility
Adam leads design and brand at Live UTI Free. He joined the team with years of experience in brand and web design, and a real belief in “design for good.” He uses those skills to help people find clear, trustworthy information on conditions that are too often overlooked.
As the team’s Accessibility Guardian, he makes sure LUF content is easy to read, easy to use, and works for people with disabilities. For a community where many people are living with pain, fatigue, and ongoing uncertainty, he sees thoughtful, accessible design as a practical way to make support easier to reach.
MA, BSc
Health Communication Specialist
Dominique’s experience with chronic UTI symptoms fuels her commitment to improving access to care and information. After years of unanswered questions, she found support through Live UTI Free, turning her health journey into impactful work.
With a BSc in Biochemistry and an MA in Musical Theatre, she combines scientific insight with powerful storytelling as a Health Communication Specialist. Dominique uses social media to inform and empower, translating complex health topics into accessible content. In doing so, she advocates for equity, better conversations, and better outcomes in women’s health.
MA
Multimedia Production Specialist
As Multimedia Production Specialist, Jeff supports the Live UTI Free team in all aspects of media production across various mediums: writing and editing, podcast production, long-form and short-form video, and beyond.
With an MA in Visual Anthropology and a passion for education as a form of social justice, Jeff strives to make information as understandable as possible for its intended audience, and enjoys the creative and technical challenges of doing this by employing different types of media.
MSc
Research Associate
Alicia joined Live UTI Free through an MSc placement position, drawn to the organization due to an interest in women’s health inequalities and the psychological impact of long-term health issues.
Live UTI Free provides valuable experience for patient advocacy, contributing to Alicia’s growing interest in women’s health research and health advocacy. She aspires to post-graduate research and Live UTI Free has enabled her to follow personal research interests.
MSc
Research Associate
Meg is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Psychology at the University of Reading. Her passion for women’s health stemmed from her own experiences and difficulties in seeking an endometriosis diagnosis. With extensive experience supporting survivors of sexual violence, Meg is dedicated to applying this expertise when working with sexual well-being in chronic health conditions primarily affecting women.
Through her ongoing work with Live UTI Free, Meg hopes to assist in innovative and critical research surrounding UTI and public attitudes.
UX & Web Specialist
Sean works across UX, web implementation, and digital operations at Live UTI Free. He assists in the design process and the translation of patient needs into the building of technical solutions.
Dedicated to solving complex problems with simple concepts, he aims to improve how information is delivered to those living with chronic illness, and to keep the website evolving with the needs of the organization.
BSc
Junior Research Associate
Issy found Live UTI Free while pursuing a placement opportunity for her BSc in Psychology. She has a passion for health psychology, in particular women’s health, which led her to discover the impactful work conducted by Live UTI Free.
Issy hopes that working with Live UTI Free will provide her with more insight into the field of women’s health research, and enable her to make an impact in this space.
LLB/BA
Communications Director
Susy co-founded Live UTI Free with the belief that there’s never been a better time to bring health issues like this out into the open. She’s fascinated with the way technology is revolutionizing the female health space.
She uses her expertise in communications and outreach to help empower others to understand their own bodies, so they can lead a strong and healthy life.
BCD
Creative Director
Hannah’s love for an ambitious mission was more than enough to get her on board as a co-founder of Live UTI Free. Specializing in branding and digital design, she set out to prove that serious health sites need not be ugly.
No stranger to an online symptom search (what modern female isn’t?), Hannah is adamant that good quality, well-researched, and holistic information should be available for all females.
Patient Ambassador
You might recognise Annett as the face of Live UTI Free. Annett experienced recurrent UTIs for 15 years before finding a doctor who helped her pursue better testing and get appropriate treatment.
She’s our number one ambassador and a pioneer for sustainability and ethical production in her own industry: fashion. We’re happy to say she’s now UTI free and she’s helping us get better information out there.
Our Advisors
PhD
Scientific Research Advisor
Krystal’s passion for women’s health grew from her clinical research on the female urinary microbiome at Loyola University Chicago. The powerful patient stories and promising science led her to dedicate her career to changing the way UTIs are diagnosed and treated.
Now at Stanford University, she investigates how uropathogens interact with the bladder to cause disease, and advises Live UTI Free on scientific rigor.
MD, FACOG
Medical Advisor
Leah Posthuma, MD is a Harvard-trained urogynecologist with more than a decade of experience as a physician and surgeon caring for women with complex bladder, urinary, and pelvic health conditions. Her clinical work has shown her how often people with recurrent and persistent urinary symptoms struggle to find answers within conventional models of care.
She supports Live UTI Free’s work to improve patient education, advance understanding of complex UTI, and bring greater attention to patients whose experiences have historically been overlooked. Leah integrates evidence-based medicine with emerging research on the microbiome, metabolism, and inflammation and is completing a master’s degree in herbal medicine. She is co-founder and medical director of The UTI Clinic serving the West Coast of the United States.
PA
Clinical Advisor
Aubree Ng, PA is a physician associate with more than a decade of clinical experience caring for urology and urogynecology patients. Through this work, she saw firsthand how often urinary symptoms and recurrent UTIs are misunderstood, minimized, or treated without addressing the broader factors affecting a patient’s health.
She supports Live UTI Free’s work because of its commitment to advocacy, improving education, advancing understanding of complex UTI, and helping patients access better care. Aubree brings a background in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a whole-person approach to medicine. She is co-founder and clinical director of The UTI Clinic.
PhD
Scientific Research Advisor
Alan is a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Loyola University Graduate School in Chicago and provides guidance to the team at Live UTI Free on scientific topics related to his work.
As the Co-Founder/Director of the Loyola Urinary Education and Research Collaborative (LUEREC), and the Founder of the Wolfe Lab, much of Alan’s research is centered around the female bladder microbiome and its impact on women’s health and disease.
Patient Involvement Advisor
Jessica’s work with Live UTI Free stems from a passion to transform the way female patients are perceived within their own health care experience. She brings a unique perspective to the team as she has witnessed firsthand the disconnect between patients and the medical community.
Having a background in patient advocacy, she hopes to encourage open communication within the practitioner-patient relationship and open-mindedness toward the diagnostics and treatment of chronic and recurrent UTI.
BSc
Community Support
Christine’s background in applied science and medical diagnostics support provides an insightful basis for her work with the Live UTI Free community.
Her strong belief that the right information at the right time can help empower patients towards a resolution stems from her own interest in women’s health and chronic illness. Christine helps ensure Live UTI Free’s readers are connected to appropriate resources.
PhD
Research & Innovation Advisor
Lindsey’s research mission is to improve people’s well-being by considering health through the ‘One Health’ perspective, which includes making the most of the medicines we have at our disposal (particularly antibiotics), reducing our waste, and increasing sustainability globally.
Lindsey believes that addressing inequalities and poor communication in healthcare is imperative, and is committed to researching current problems, designing and evaluating novel interventions, and reporting on positive outcomes we can adopt within our community.
MD, PhD, FASTMH
Urological Research Advisor
Michael Hsieh serves as the Director of Transitional Urology at the Children’s National Health System and the George Washington University. His strong research focus and belief that the patient perspective is a crucial part of this research prompted him to connect with Live UTI Free in its early stages.
Dr. Hsieh runs a bladder biology research group and is developing a broader microbiology research program across multiple laboratories. He collaborates with Live UTI Free to help connect the patient community with new chronic UTI research.
LLM Human & Health Rights
Legal Advisor & Ethics Board Member
Janet loves working with teams who change the world, one issue at a time. Advising the team at Live UTI Free provides an opportunity for her to delve deeper into her specialties: health, sexual, and reproductive rights.
By successfully navigating the legalities and ethics of health empowerment and outreach, Janet allows the rest of the team to focus on spreading their message effectively.
BACP
Business Advisor
Susie started supporting the Live UTI Free as a business coach and sales strategy advisor. As a passionate advocate of female founders and ethical startups, she is no stranger to gender bias.
As a psychotherapist, Susie often meets women with undiagnosed chronic health conditions. She hopes that strengthening engagement across all groups within the UTI space will improve women’s physiological and mental health.
MLs
French Content Manager
Justine, a professional translator with a passion for foreign languages and cultures, wants to make women’s health a priority in France. She used her talent for languages to translate the Live UTI Free website into French and therefore enable French women to benefit from effective treatments.
Informing women about medical developments is an important project that had been on her mind for several years. For her, medical information should circulate freely, without language and culture being an obstacle.
Our Authors & Translators
ND, LM
Naturopathic Doctor & Certified Midwife
Dr. Deanna Berman’s journey into natural medicine and her passion for helping women began with her own health issues, including Interstitial Cystitis.
She draws on her understanding of both the necessity for medication and the limitations of natural medicine to write educational articles for Live UTI Free, particularly around UTI and pregnancy, as well as functional healing.
MD
Author & Pre-Med Student
Emilie stumbled across Live UTI Free while searching for support with her own UTIs. As a Biology major and pre-Med student, she became enamored with the presentation of science-backed information that allows patients to advocate for themselves.
Now a qualified medical doctor, Emilie is excited to be part of the solution by helping to raise awareness for UTIs and by giving others the tools to do the same.
MLs
French Content Writer
For Maiwenn, helping people is the most important aspect of a translator’s work. Working with Live UTI Free has allowed her to achieve this goal. Passionate about multimedia and the audiovisual, she is thrilled to work with content from different media and adapt it for the French public.
Maiwenn is proud to be part of the French content team and to be able to use her translation skills to educate more people about UTIs, a subject with low awareness in France, even among women.
BLs
Translator
Maylis wanted to do something meaningful during her master’s degree in Intercultural Communication and Translation. When she learned about Live UTI Free, she was eager to join the movement and make this valuable information available for French-speaking people.
Maylis believes in feminism and equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their gender. A strong supporter of inclusive writing, she aims to create French content that is as inclusive as possible, in a language that is normally gendered.
BA
Translator
While seeking an internship during her master’s degree in translation, Auriane discovered Live UTI Free. She perceives translation from a feminist point of view and wanted the opportunity to have a positive impact on women’s lives.
Translating for Live UTI Free allows her to spread awareness about a topic that is not discussed enough in France. Easy access to information about UTIs and women’s health should be a priority.
Published Author
Author
Anne Freeman is an author and copywriter. In her creative writing practice, as in life, women-supporting-women is one of her favorite themes. Having lived with Type 1 Diabetes (an incurable autoimmune disease) for more than 20 years, she is acutely empathetic towards anyone living with chronic illness.
Through experiencing health care that is often misguided or indifferent, and sometimes downright hostile, she knows the importance of advocating for oneself. She is thrilled to contribute to the chorus of voices sharing crucial women’s health information and improving lives.
MD
Author
Madhu has always been a strong supporter for patient education and autonomy. She began writing for Live UTI Free to help promote accurate information and healthy discussion in doctor-patient interaction.
As an internal medicine resident, she hopes to encourage women to educate and advocate for themselves in doctor’s offices.
MSc
Research Associate
Kayleigh stumbled upon the world of recurrent UTI during her MSc in Health Psychology. Having learned about the immense impact of living with a chronic condition through her studies, her research interests are driven by the desire to improve patient outcomes in chronic illness.
She is now working closely with Live UTI Free and partners to collect, analyze, and publish patient-driven data in order to help ensure that the patient perspective is considered.
