Management & Board
Management
Sara Thorslund, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Co-founder and CEO of Gradientech since its start in 2009. Sara Thorslund has received several innovation and entrepreneurship awards as growing Gradientech into an international diagnostics company. Presented as one of today’s role models shaping our future in book publication by Mondial (2020). Holds a MSc in Engineering Biology from Linköping University and a PhD in Material Science and Microstructure Technology from Uppsala University. Author of +10 peer-reviewed scientific publications and inventor of a handful patents.
Urban Adolfsson
Chief Financial Officer
Urban Adolfsson has a broad background within finance in different roles and organizations including accounting, financial and business analysis, cash and investment planning as well as equity raising. He has held positions as auditor in Ernst & Young, acting CFO / Head of Group Control at PA Resources (Oil & gas), Head of Business control at Envirotainer (Logistics & Supply chain) and CFO / Interim CEO in Encare (Digitalisation of medical science). Urban Adolfsson holds a MSc in Business and Economics from Uppsala University.
Peter Karlberg
VP Sales
Peter Karlberg joined Gradientech in 2022 to build and lead the commercial part of the company. He has more than 20 years of experience from international commercialising of expanding enterprises as well as launching new product lines for larger life science companies. He has been engaged in leading commercial roles in companies such as Life Technologies, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Roche Diagnostics, but also smaller companies such as Fluidigm, Olink, Celsee, and Pyrosequencing. Peter Karlberg holds a BSc in molecular biology from Uppsala University. Peter served as a Board member for Gradientech 2010-2015.
Marcus Berglund
Chief Technology Officer
Marcus Berglund joined Gradientech in 2017 and has more than 15 years of experience within system, electronics and SW development. The last 10 years he has been engaged in leading development roles such as team lead, project manager and consultant manager. Passionate about technology and development in life changing applications with direct experience from projects within Life Science, Automotive and Industrial development. Marcus Berglund holds a MSc in Electronics Design Engineering from Linköping University.
Anna-Lisa Tiensuu
Regulatory Affairs & Quality Assurance Manager
Anna-Lisa Tiensuu has worked in the life science sector for more than 20 years, the last 15+ years focusing on global medical device regulatory affairs and quality management. Anna-Lisa Tiensuu holds a MSc in Engineering Physics and a Licentiate of Engineering degree in Material Science from Uppsala University.
Ann-Sofie Andersson
Marketing & Communication Manager
Ann-Sofie Andersson joined Gradientech in 2013 and has over 30 years of experience within the Life Science Sector from companies such as Pharmacia Diagnostics (today Thermo Fisher Scientific), Anamar and Mercodia. Previous positions include roles as Product Manager, International Marketing, Sales and Project Management. Ann-Sofie Andersson has also broad experience from business development, quality assurance and distributor environment.
Christer Malmberg, PhD
Chief Scientist
Christer Malmberg has solid experience from clinical and diagnostic microbiology research, investigating methods for early detection of phenotypic effects of antibiotics. Joined Gradientech in 2014 as project leader for the instrument development, and was in 2017 additionally awarded a PhD research grant from Uppsala Antibiotic Centre focusing on the clinical performance evaluation of Gradientech's microfluidic platform for rapid AST. Christer Malmberg holds a PhD in Medical Science and MSc in Molecular Biotechnology Engineering from Uppsala University.
Martin Karlsson, PhD
Production & Supply Manager
Martin Karlsson joined Gradientech in 2021 and has industry experience from the medical device and pharmaceutical sector, with positions within quality and development functions since 2012. Focusing on processes for efficiency and quality he believes is a key for developing successful production and supply operations within Gradientech. Martin Karlsson holds a PhD in physical chemistry from Uppsala University and a MSc in analytical chemistry from Linköping University.
Cecilia Johansson, PhD
Head of Microbiology
Cecilia Johansson has more than 20 years of research experience working with clinically relevant bacteria and viruses including solid experience within a range of microbiology and molecular biology analysis methods. Cecilia Johansson holds a MSc in Biology and a PhD in Medical Virology from Uppsala University and is author of +15 peer-reviewed scientific publications. Joined Gradientech in 2019, managing the team of microbiologists and project leading the microbiology activities and facilities.
Board of Directors
Gisela Sitbon, PhD
Chairman since 2020
Gisela Sitbon has a research background within molecular biology, combined with more than 25 years of senior level experience from the life science industry. This includes business development and operational positions, as well as co-founding and managing a service-providing diagnostic company, later acquired by Capio. Currently holds several chair positions and board appointments in private and stock market listed companies.
Henrik Didner, PhD
Director since 2018
Co-founder, owner and working chairman of the Swedish leading fund management firm Didner & Gerge. Other current commitments include the position as chairman for Uppsala University Holding. Henrik Didner holds a PhD in Business Administration from Uppsala University.
Rolf Ehrnström
Director since 2020
Rolf Ehrnström has extensive R&D leadership experience from biotech and diagnostic companies like e.g. Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Dako (acquired by Agilent) and the microfluidics pioneer company Gyros. Today, Rolf Ehrnström serves on the board of directors for various innovation-driven life science companies and is appointed independent partner at Ventac Partners.
Laura Chirica, PhD
Director since 2021
Laura Chirica holds an PhD in biochemistry and has over 20 years’ experience of global commercial positions in the bioprocess, biotech and diagnostics sector. In her previous role as Chief Commercial Officer for Immunovia, she played a key role in the commercialization of Immunovias first product and the company’s journey to the market. She is also a board member in Senzagen which develops and sells state of the art non animal tests for assessing a substance’s allergenicity.
Hilja Ibert, PhD
Director since 2023
Hilja Ibert brings more than 30 years of experience from the clinical diagnostics industry at international companies like Hologic, Becton Dickinson and bioMérieux, including Vice President and General Manager positions within the business areas of Diagnostic systems and Bioscience. She is currently CEO of Gentian Diagnostics, a Norwegian publicly listed company having products on the international immunodiagnostics market.
Nedal Safwat, PhD
Director since 2023
Nedal Safwat is an accomplished leader in the clinical diagnostic industry with 20+ years of global experience. Nedal Safwat has held diverse roles, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the industry. He has successfully led commercial teams, developing strategies for microbiology applications such as bacterial identification, antibiotic susceptibility testing, resistance, and sepsis detection.
