Dr Ulla Sovio

I am a Principal Research Associate at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, where I study adverse pregnancy outcomes using statistical and machine learning methods. My research interests include clinical risk prediction and screening tool development. I participated in developing a screening test using maternal, ultrasonic and placental biomarker data from the Pregnancy Outcome Prediction Study (POPS). The test is currently being evaluated in an ongoing intervention trial within POPS2. In addition to being a trial statistician, I analyse ‘omics’ data to further improve the identification of high risk pregnancies. I also supervise and mentor students and early career researchers. A full list of my publications can be found in Google Scholar at https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=VOHWcY4AAAAJ&hl=en. In addition to research, I am involved in science communication, EDI and Wellbeing activities. 

I obtained an MSc in Statistics from the University of Oulu, Finland, before completing an MSc and a PhD in Epidemiology at Imperial College London. Before moving to Cambridge, I worked as a Lecturer in Medical Statistics and Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 

Project/study information

The POPS was a large cohort of first pregnancies (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnancy_Outcome_Prediction_study). The participants attended antenatal scans and delivered at the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge in 2008-2013. The children of the participants are being followed up in the POPStar study. Another cohort study of first pregnancies, POPS2, is currently ongoing. The study design resembles that of POPS, but it includes an additional element of a randomised controlled intervention trial (https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12181427). The recruitment is due to be completed in November 2026.