HopeLab

Infobox_Company | company_name = HopeLab
company_
company_type = Non-profit
foundation = 2001
location = Redwood City, California, United States
area_served = Global
focus = Healthcare
products = Re-Mission
homepage = [http://www.hopelab.org www.hopelab.org]

HopeLab is a non-profit organization based in Redwood City, CA that conducts research and develops technology-based products to improve the health and quality of life of young people with chronic illness. HopeLab's work focuses on five diseases: cancer, obesity, sickle cell disease, major depressive disorder, and autism. HopeLab is particularly interested in these diseases due to the significant unmet need among adolescents and young adult patients. HopeLab was founded in 2001 by board chair Pam Omidyar.

The HopeLab team includes individuals with expertise in a wide range of disciplines, including research, psychology, game development, nutrition, communications, health law and policy, and organizational development. HopeLab works closely with young people with chronic illness to incorporate their critical and ongoing input into product development. A notable part of HopeLab's approach to its nonprofit work is the organization's use of scientific research methodologies, including randomized controlled trials, to evaluate the efficacy of its products in addressing specific health issues.

For her work with HopeLab, Pam Omidyar received the inaugural Peter Samuelson Award for Innovation at the Starlight Children's Foundation annual "A Stellar Night" event on March 23, 2007. [http://www.starlight.org/atf/cf/%7B5BA4C9B4-81DD-431A-B59E-C291DBBFFC92%7D/Press%20Release%20-%20Gala%20-%20February%202007.pdf] The award recognizes individuals who break new ground to help seriously ill children cope with their disease.

Mission Statement

HopeLab's official mission statement describes the organization and its activities thus::"Combining rigorous research with innovative solutions to improve the health and quality of life of young people with chronic illness."

Cancer Initiative

HopeLab's first product is the Re-Mission video game for teens and young adults with cancer. Released on April 3, 2006, the game is a Microsoft Windows based third-person shooter based in the serious games genre. The game was conceived by Pam Omidyar and designed based on HopeLab research, direct input from young cancer patients and oncology doctors and nurses, and game developer Realtime Associates, among others. The game was designed to engage young cancer patients through entertaining game play while impacting specific psychological and behavioral outcomes associated with successful cancer treatement.

HopeLab conducted an international, multicenter randomized controlled trial to gauge the efficacy of Re-Mission as it relates to compliance with prescribed chemotherapy and antibiotic treatments, cancer-related knowledge, and self-efficacy. The study enrolled 375 cancer patients aged 13-29 at 34 medical centers in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Subjects received either computers pre-loaded with a popular commercial video game (the control group) or computers preloaded with the same control game plus Re-Mission. Study results indicated that playing Re-Mission led to more consistent treatment adherence, faster rate of increase in cancer knowledge, and faster rate of increase in self-efficacy in young cancer patients. These findings were published in August 2008 in the peer-reviewed medical journal Pediatrics. Notably, to ascertain treatment compliance, researches used objective blood tests to measure levels of prescribed chemotherapy in the bodies of study participants rather than subjective self-report questionnaires, and electronic pill-cap monitors were used to determine utilization of prescribed antibiotics. Researches concluded that a carefully designed video game can have a positive impact on health behavior in young people with chronic illness and that video-game–based interventions may constitute a component of a broader integrative approach to healthcare that synergistically combines rationally targeted biological and behavioral interventions to aid patients in the prevention, detection, treatment, and recovery from disease. [http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/122/2/e305]

HopeLab is conducting additional research to understand the mechanisms of action that make Re-Mission effective. [http://www.hopelab.org/our-research/re-mission-attitudes-study-in-the-brain/] Results of an fMRI study of Re-Mission showing the impact of the game on neurological processes were presented in August 2008 at the 10th International Congress of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. [http://www.icbm2008.jp/index.html] This research is intended to inform HopeLab's development of the next version of Re-Mission currently underway.

HopeLab makes Re-Mission available at no charge to young people with cancer and their families, as well as oncology healthcare workers and institutions around the world. Copies are also distributed at no charge to others, though donations are accepted. The game can be donwloaded or ordered at [http://www.re-mission.net re-mission.net] in English, Spanish, or French. The Re-Mission website also includes an online community where teens and young adults can share information and support each other.

As of August 2008, more than 126,000 copies of Re-Mission had been distributed in 81 countries, placing it among the most successful serious games to date. HopeLab engages organizations and individuals worldwide to fasciliate distribution of the game to teens and young adults with cancer. On May 30, 2007, CIGNA HealthCare announced a partnership with HopeLab in which CIGNA distributes copies of Re-Mission to its members at no cost. [http://newsroom.cigna.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=715] HopeLab has also partnered with Starlight Children's Foundation and the ESA Foundation to distribute Re-Mission.

Obesity Initiative

HopeLab's work to address obesity in young people focuses on efforts to increase levels of physical activity in children 11 - 14 years old. Research at HopeLab into the issue of obesity informed HopeLab's decision to focus on physical activity to address the negative health outcomes associated with obesity. Data indicate that physical activity levels begin to decrease in middle school (approximately ages 11-14). HopeLab's assessment of available research was compiled into a white paper entited Physical Activity Research summary and published on July 27, 2007. [http://www.ruckusnation.com/pdf/RN_Research_Summary.pdf]

To begin development of physical activity interventions, HopeLab, in partnership [http://www.ruckusnation.com/pdf/news/RN_PressRelease_Updated.pdf] with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's [http://www.rwjf.org/programareas/pioneer/programarea.jsp?pid=1140 Pioneer Portfolio] launched an online competition called [http://www.ruckusnation.com/ Ruckus Nation] on September 18, 2007. The competition was structured as a form of crowdsourcing, and its objective was to generate ideas for products that will encourage children ages 11-14 to be more physically active. The competition was international in scope, open to people of all ages, with a total prize purse of more than $300,000.00 USD awarded to winners across four competition categories. [http://www.ruckusnation.com/pdf/RN_Rules.pdf] More than 1,142 people registered to compete, and 429 ideas were submitted by teams representing 37 countries and 41 U.S. states. Contestants ranged in age from 6 - 82 years of age. Semifinilast teams were announed March 10, 2008. On March 17, 2008, 10 category winners, one grand prize winner, and one grand prize honorable mention were announced at an event at the de Young Museum of Fine Arts in San Francisco, Calif. [http://www.hopelab.org/2008/03/17/winners-announced-in-hopelab%e2%80%99s-global-competition-to-get-kids-moving-press-release/]

HopeLab intends to prototype products based on ideas from the competition and scientifically test them to measure their effectiveness in increasing physical activity among children 11-14. Products that prove effective will be developed and widely distributed.

Future Efforts

In addition to its cancer- and obesity-related programs, HopeLab intends to conduct research and product development activities that will address the following diseases:

* Sickle cell disease
* Major depressive disorder
* Autism

External links

* [http://www.hopelab.org/ HopeLab main site]
* [http://www.re-mission.net/ Re-Mission main site supporting game orders and online community]
* [http://www.ruckusnation.com/ Ruckus Nation idea competition main site]

Articles

* [http://watch.ctv.ca/news/health/lifetime-with-monica-matys/#clip71812 "A Video Game Helping Kids With Cancer"] CTV Toronto (August 7, 2008)
* [http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTON57355420080805?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true "Video Game Helps Young Cancer Patients Take Meds"] Reuters (August 5, 2008)
* [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/04/BU1D11PLMC.DTL "Startup Uses Video Games to Heal Young People"] San Francisco Chronicle (August 4, 2008)
* [http://healthzone.ca/health/article/472056 "Video Game Helps Kids Blast at Their Cancer"] Toronto Star (August 4, 2008)
* [http://www.hopelab.org/2008/08/04/study-shows-playing-videogames-can-change-behavior-biology-press-release/ "Study Shows Video Games Can Change Behavior, Biology"] Press Release (August 4, 2008)
* [http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/122/2/e305 "A Video Game Improves Behavioral Outcomes in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: A Randomized Trial"] Pediatrics (August 2008)
* [http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_8734718 "OMG! Denver Girls Txt It! Game Is Winner"] Denver Post (March 30, 2008)
* [http://www.hopelab.org/2008/03/17/winners-announced-in-hopelab%e2%80%99s-global-competition-to-get-kids-moving-press-release/ "Winners Announced in Hopelab’s Global Competition to Get Kids Moving!"] Press Release (March 17, 2008)
* [http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2007/ "F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America"] Trust for America's Health (August 2007)
* [http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/pcp06rpt/pcp06rpt.pdf "2005-2006 President's Cancer Panel report"]