CellCrush was born during the XRAI Hackathon by SenAI Hackademy in Cologne, August 2025. XR technologies are transforming how medical professionals learn and train, however, patients are sometimes met with explanations that feel abstract and overwhelming.
CellCrush began as an experiment in creating a VR experience for people facing complex diseases:
- What if patients could see what is happening inside their bodies?
- What if they could feel like they were actively fighting back?
- What if education could be playful, visual, and empowering?
The result was a game where players walk through the bloodstream, battle harmful cells and learn how chemotherapy treatment works in a way that makes biology less intimidating. Families, students and anyone curious about the human body can explore CellCrush together. It’s both a science game and an empowerment tool designed to make learning about health engaging, social and accessible for all.
Project Partners
Institut für Künstliche Intelligenz in der Medizin (IKIM)
- Prof. Jan Egger
- Prof. Jens Kleesiek
- Ana Sofia Ferreira Santos
- Negar Shahamiri
- Katarzyna Olszyńska
- Elizabeth Sierzego
Contacts
Ana Sofia Santos (ana.ferreirasantos@uk-essen.de)
Negar Shahamiri (negar.shahamiri@uk-essen.de)