Welcome! Endo news, community and more
Science is catching up, your pain is real, and Calala just got into two accelerators. Welcome to Issue 01.
Hi! We are glad you are here. Make yourself cosy.
Welcome to the very first issue of the Calala Monthly Letter. This is a space where endometriosis is talked about honestly, where the science gets explained without jargon, and where the people living with it are at the centre.
Science is catching up. Here's what's new.
Three major research developments worth knowing about:
- Genetic research: Scientists at Nature Genetics published findings from analysis of data from 1.4 million women and identified 80 regions of the genome linked to the disease (37 of them previously unknown). Institutions involved include Yale, Barcelona, and European and American research centres. Read the study →
- Diagnostic imaging: University of Oxford researchers published results in The Lancet describing a new kind of scan to detect endometriosis lesions without the need for surgery. The work received FDA Fast Track status. Read the study →
- Blood markers: Yale University identified specific blood markers that correlate to endometriosis, potentially enabling blood-based diagnosis. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published new guidelines permitting treatment based on symptoms alone without surgical confirmation. Read the study →
These advances represent real progress, but treatments remain years away from widespread availability.
Your pain is real. Here's how to get heard.
Women with endo wait up to 10 years before being taken seriously. Here are three key advocacy strategies:
- How to document symptoms effectively
- Which language resonates with doctors
- How to ask for a referral without being dismissed
Read the full article on Instagram →
About us. Here's what's up.
Calala co-founders Lisa and Ivonne, based in Berlin, have been selected into two accelerator programmes:
- Impact Sprint Lab — a Germany-wide incubator for impact-driven founders
- Grace Accelerator Berlin — a Berlin-based accelerator for female founders
Both programmes receive support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and the European Union.
This section belongs to you. We mean it.
This is an open invitation for you to share your personal stories, questions, or experiences related to your endometriosis journey. Just reply to this email.
With love from Berlin,
Your Calala team
