Leadership Team
Søren P. Sheikh MD, PhD, HD
Chief Executive Officer
With more than 35 years in Danish and U.S. academia and healthcare, Søren specialises in gut and neuropeptide biology, stem-cell fate determination, and cellular differentiation. His work covers molecular signalling pathways, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, and AI-driven research in prostate cancer. He founded both the Danish Centre for Regenerative Medicine and the Center for Vascular Regeneration, where he integrated stem-cell therapies into clinical settings. Most recently, Søren directed the Department of Clinical Biochemistry & Pharmacology at Odense University Hospital for 15 years, managing a team of 280 staff—including 35 dedicated scientists.
Thomas Sandal, MSc, EBA
Chief Development Officer
Thomas Sandal is a biotech leader with 30+ years of experience, who specialises in early-stage discovery and CMC development of antibodies and fragments for various indications including RA, ALI, Psoriasis, oncology, and microbiome products. He has held executive positions at PokeAcell, AGC Biologics, Microbiotica Ltd, Crescendo Biologics Ltd, GSK Ltd, and Domantis, advancing numerous compounds to clinical stages. Thomas, a molecular biologist with an engineering degree from the Technical University of Denmark and a Business Administration degree from Copenhagen University College of Engineering, excels in biotech company building and R&D strategy.
Board of Directors
Olav Hellebø
Chairman of the Board
Olav Hellebø has more than 25 years of international leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. He has held senior executive roles at UCB, Novartis, and Schering-Plough, where he successfully built global teams, managed multi-billion-dollar businesses, and led major product launches across the US and Europe. Olav has extensive board experience from both private and public biotech companies, including ReNeuron, Calliditas Therapeutics, Antev, and Cytovation. Over his career, he has raised more than $200 million in capital, overseen IPO processes, and negotiated strategic partnerships with leading global pharma companies.
Ole Vahlgren
Member of the Board
Ole Vahlgren has 25 years’ experience as a senior pharma executive, including in business development. Over his career, Ole has successfully rejuvenated product portfolios and management teams, steering companies into new therapeutic areas and across global frontiers, including the US, Japan, and Europe. Ole is also the CEO of AJ Vaccines.
Michael Ulveman
Member of the Board
Michael Ulveman is a strategic communication specialist, who advises companies, organisations and top executives on communications and public affairs. He has worked for two Danish Prime Ministers and the NATO Secretary General on how to set the agenda in the public and navigate in a complex media environment. With more than 20 years as journalist, correspondent and editor, Michael has a profound insight into national and international media. His postings have included Washington DC and Brussels. Today he is the Co-founder and partner of Denmark’s leading communication agency, Ulveman & Børsting, which has a staff of 30 employees.
Anella Stelsig Rogaczewski
Member of the Board
Anella Rogaczewski, a seasoned entrepreneur and business advisor, holds a Bachelor's degree in Business and Economics from Copenhagen Business School. With experience in sales and marketing at L'Oréal, Burger King, and Body Shop, she later founded multiple companies across various industries including IT consulting, retail, furniture production, music rights distribution, and interior design. Anella is also educated in board leadership from CBS and joined the Blue Cell board in 2023. Outside her professional endeavours, she actively supports vulnerable children through the NGO Red Barnet.
Blue Cell Team
Benjamin Claass, PhD
Director of CMC
Maja Lind Nybo, PhD
Senior Scientist
Reza Yarani, PhD
Senior Scientist
Jone Kvam
Scientist
Mette Søgaard Hansen
Senior Research Lab Technician
Mingshu M. Eriksen
Senior Lab Technician
Martha Sheikh Chahid
Executive Assistant
