XR for Kids with Cancer
18Loop is a 501c3 nonprofit company that deploys XR technology to help children with cancer tolerate treatment, recover and thrive. The headsets we deploy help our kids with mood, pain mitigation, immersive learning, collaboration and exercise. Our team and partners believe that health and wellness XR makes a big impact on the lives of pediatric cancer patients. 18Loop has been focused on our #techforgood mission since 2017.
Testimonial
18 Loop's VR program fits beautifully into ACCO's resources that we provide to children. Kids undergoing cancer treatment receive harsh therapies that can include toxic chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Teens face unique challenges in that they are often isolated from their friends and school community during a time in their lives when they would normally be expanding their social reach. Additionally, one in five teens will learn that they will not be cured of their cancer, and must face death with an increased cognitive understanding as a result of their age. When Greg first introduced the VR program, I had known many teens who had died from cancer and had witnessed their emotional and physical pain. Helping these kids to not feel as isolated, and assisting them with pain management through the VR headset was a gift to these incredible teens as they faced death.
Ruth Hoffman
American Childhood Cancer Organization
Our Program
18Loop and the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) have been working collaboratively since 2020 to deploy Virtual Reality (VR) headsets to kids with cancer. Today, over 100 children in 32 states have received our headsets and our message has been amplified on television and the internet.
With the ACCO, 18Loop is proving the efficacy of VR for mood enhancement for cancer kids and families. 85% of our teens report better mood after VR immersion. VR is a proven family intervention, with the headsets having a wholistic impact on cancer families. We have seen the benefit for siblings and parents.
18Loop is also currently supplying technology for joint research in Michigan being conducted with the XR Impact Network. We invite you to read more about it.
Servier Pharmaceuticals is the main funder of our work. We have also received generous donations from Tripp and Meta.
“...Virtual Reality offers an answer to educational and mood issues that only immersion can deliver. 18Loop will deploy VR to children with cancer that will provide them with a respite from treatment and help them to recover and thrive. The technology is getting better and we must leverage it now for our kids and their families."
Greg Tarnacki
CEO & Founder, 18Loop
Our Partners
Our Passion
The 18Loop kids in these videos have enjoyed their VR headsets and felt the impact of our mission. We love to see children using our technology to battle cancer. We believe that XR and spatial computing is a vital part of any treatment plan, including both teenagers and our younger program participants.
Our Blog
Welcome to the 18Loop blog! You will find stories from patients and families, health and wellness XR industry news, partner and fundraising updates and insight into our progress and mission. Our team will post regular updates including our coverage in the press. Enjoy the updates!
18Loop CEO Greg Tarnacki to Chair Health and Wellness Day at AWE!
On June 18th, 18Loop CEO Greg Tarnacki will serve as Track Chair for the Health and Wellness sessions at the Augmented World Expo (awexr.com) in Long Beach California. This year, AWE will welcome over 6500 attendees from the XR industry who will view presentations, demonstrate technology and participate in networking activities. The Health and Wellness track…
18Loop SURPASSES 100 HEADSETS
This spring, 18Loop has surpassed 100 headsets deployed. The majority of the VR headsets have been connected to children through the American Childhood Cancer Organization. 18Loop also maintains a relationship with the XR Impact Network that has afforded us the opportunity to serve children in a study in Michigan at the Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids…
18Loop.org Relaunches, ICCD and Our Backlog Ships!
We are happy to announce that 18Loop.org has relaunched. Thank you for visiting us and please consider making a donation. This month, we have shipped VR headsets to the remainder of the kids on our waiting list. We are grateful that they will be participating in our research and hope the wait was worth it!…
SERVIER FUNDS SECOND ROUND OF RESEARCH!
December 2021 and January 2022 will be exciting months for 18Loop. This month, we have received additional year end funding from Servier Pharmaceuticals for our Joint Experimental Research Study (JEIRS) with the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO). The Servier funding will allow us to ship VR headsets to many of our backlog ACCO kids before…
18LOOP CONTINUES TO GATHER RESEARCH RESULTS
18Loop has deployed 25 Oculus VR headsets to kids with cancer and we continue to receive results and feedback. “Our focus has been on Virtual Stress Management, which we deliver through the deployment of the Tripp platform,” says 18Loop CEO Greg Tarnacki. “What has been encouraging is the benefit that gaming provides by stimulating physical…
18LOOP FOCUSING ON NEW RESEARCH
This summer, 18Loop is focusing on several new research initiatives that will help our kids with cancer to tolerate treatment, recover and thrive. Our Joint Experimental Intervention Research Study (JEIRS) with the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) currently has a full cohort of 25 participants. We are receiving great qualitative feedback from the kids and…
18LOOP DOUBLES STUDY PARTICIPANTS
We are excited to announce that in May, with the help of the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO), 18Loop more than doubled the number of kids with cancer in the the Joint Experimental Intervention Research Study (JEIRS). So far, our survey data has indicated that all of our kids report doing better in the hospital…
18LOOP WINS FAST COMPANY’S WCI!
18Loop is proud to announce that we have won an honorable mention in Fast Company‘s World Changing Ideas 2021. Check out our Press Release HERE. This recognition will help us to raise funds and to scale our growing research study. We are shipping new Oculus Quest 2 headsets in May, and the American Childhood Cancer…
SERVIER PHARMACEUTICALS FUNDS 18LOOP!
18Loop is happy to announce that Phase II of our Joint Experimental Intervention Research Study (JEIRS) with the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) has been funded by Servier Pharmaceuticals. Servier is a partner of the ACCO and is helping the 18Loop team to support ACCO kids in the fight against pediatric cancer. It has been…
18LOOP/ACCO JEIRS EARLY RESULTS IN!
When pediatric cancer patient Elizabeth first tried Virtual Reality (VR), she exclaimed that it was “amazing and exciting.” She didn’t realize it at first, but VR would prove to be an aid in the hospital for her and her fellow study participants. Elizabeth is the first of seven teens to test VR in 18Loop and…
Research
We believe in sharing industry research that supports technology intervention in our focus areas. Here you can find published papers that illustrate how effective XR can be to pediatric cancer patients and other populations combating pain, discomfort and mood issues.
Contact Us
Please fill out our contact form. We are interested in your feedback and we’d like to keep you up to date on the progress of our mission. We are interested in inquiries from medical personnel and those with technology expertise in the area of Virtual Reality. For parents involved in 18Loop programs, head to Parent/Tech.
Contact Info
Use the button below to see real-time availability to schedule some time with Greg:
Contact Form
Contact Form