Funding boost to build pelvic health app

A physiotherapist has secured £75,000 in Innovate UK funding to develop a pelvic health app, aimed at making pelvic floor support more accessible.

Suzanne Vernazza, based in Newcastle, north east England, a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist and founder of Know Your Floors CIC, has been awarded the funding through an Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award. She is also chief executive of Premere Ltd.

The money will support further development and testing of the Know Your Floors App, which combines daily pelvic floor exercises, different workout styles, reminders and gamification with pelvic health education and symptom information. The app is due to enter beta testing in December 2026.

It will also include an AI-supported information tool, which will undergo clinical validation and testing to assess the accuracy and safety of its responses and ensure appropriate signposting for users.

Vernazza said: “This funding is transformational for the project.

“It allows us to move from an idea with strong clinical foundations and community support to a properly tested, launch-ready product.

“We will be able to work alongside beta testers to refine the experience and carefully validate the AI-supported information feature, so we’re building something that is not only innovative, but clinically robust and worthy of people’s trust.”

Vernazza developed the concept through years of clinical work with NHS patients experiencing bladder and bowel problems, pelvic pain and pelvic organ prolapse.

She also runs the #SqueezeAlong online community, which has more than 670,000 followers.

Development has also been supported by the Internet of Caring Things programme, which has helped gather user feedback and reduce development risks.

Jennine Jonczyk, programme lead for the Internet of Caring Things, said: “Suzanne has done something really powerful.

“She has helped to bring pelvic floor health out into the open, making a subject that can be difficult for women to talk about feel much more approachable and accessible.

“By combining her clinical expertise with the insight of a huge online community and the innovative use of gamification, she is finding a new way to engage and support women with their pelvic health.

“We are incredibly proud to have supported Suzanne and delighted to see her work receive this recognition and funding.”