MedicalExpo Article on Sickle Cell Pain Research @ UCSF Oakland

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Courtesy of UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital

Courtesy of UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital

A pilot study in San Francisco has shown that virtual reality (VR) can help children and teens escape from the pain of sickle cell disease, and future studies are planned to ease discomfort for youths being treated for cancer.

The idea came from video game developer Simon Robertson, who also happened to be a volunteer at the University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland.

Video: UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland

UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland published a video highlighting their pioneering work researching the use of virtual reality to help sickle cell patients manage their pain. Briana Nathaniel, a participant in the research study shares how VR plays a role in her hospital experience. Primary Investigator of the study Dr. Anne Marsh and Simon Robertson of KindVR discuss the potential of VR to help patients. 

San Francisco Chronicle features KindVR & UCSF

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We're proud to be mentioned on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper today. The story details our research study at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland evaluating the use of virtual reality to help patients with sickle cell disease manage their pain crisis. 

Photo: Michael Noble Jr., The Chronicle

Photo: Michael Noble Jr., The Chronicle

"Briana Nathaniel, 14, lies listless in her hospital bed, exhausted from days of nearly unbearable pain. Her voice is small, barely a whisper, and even lifting her hand seems to take enormous effort.

Half an hour later, she’s transformed. A virtual reality visor covers half her face, but it can’t hide her grin. She’s sitting up, her hands waving around as she calls out, “Hi, dolphin! Hi, whale!” "  (Read more) 

Photo: Michael Noble Jr., The Chronicle

Photo: Michael Noble Jr., The Chronicle

“It’s amazing. You walk into the room, and they’re like a different kid for these 30 minutes.”
— Dr. Anne Marsh