Scottish scientists develop 'Project Sanitarium,' a video game that raises awareness about tuberculosis and lets player battle it

A unique collaboration between the researchers from Abertay University and St Andrews University in Scotland has produced a video game that lets players tackle tuberculosis on a global scale. Through game called Project Sanitarium, the researchers aim to raise awareness about the world's oldest infectious disease.

In the game, the players assumed the role of a medic and uses available resources to tackle the disease on a global scale. The team of undergraduates from the two Scottish universities, believes that the game will help manage the scourge of tuberculosis with the help of a modern approach.

With the help of Project Sanitarium, the researchers intend to manage two aspects of the disease – the awareness about the illness and its impact and the use of mathematical modelling to simulate a virtual drug trial. The data collected during the video game session will be transferred back to the researchers. The data will then be analysed to figure out a way to better deliver drugs to the patients in the developing world, in a more speedy and cost-effective manner.

“The scale of the global tuberculosis pandemic is absolutely terrifying, but there’s still very little awareness about this disease,” said John Brengman, a team member of the Project Sanitarium.

“We want to use games technology to help tackle this massive problem, through raising awareness and helping test the scientists’ mathematical model.”

The mathematical model being tested through the game has been developed by the scientists at the St Andrews University. The model makes use of the data from “human interactions to simulate a virtual drug trial.”

The Project Sanitarium team leader, Professor Stephen Gillespie of St Andrews University, says that the social stigma associated with tuberculosis prevents people from seeking proper treatment. The stigma partially results in death of more than a million people in a year due to the disease.

“By developing Project Sanitarium into an effective teaching tool for the public and health professionals we can demystify the disease and help more patients to complete their treatment and be cured.”

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.