University of Cambridge Team Creates Virtual Reality Map of Tumor

A graduate of Dartmouth College with a bachelor of arts in psychology, Darcy Cardarelli draws on more than three decades of programming experience to develop a website that will offer stories to inspire people affected by cancer, the loss of a loved one, and other hardships. Darcy Cardarelli is particularly interested in cancer research and innovations that help improve these efforts. 

In late 2018, scientists at the University of Cambridge made new strides to improving research capabilities through a virtual reality (VR) cancer model that allows them to study tumors from any angle and examine cells on an individual level. According to the team, this endeavor will serve to expand the understanding of cancer and facilitate the development of new treatment methods. Funding for the project came from a $45 million Cancer Research UK grant awarded to Cambridge in 2017. 

To create the VR model, scientists take a tumor sample from a real patient and slice it into wafer-thin biopsy slices. The slices are then scanned with markers to analyze their DNA characteristics and molecular make up. This data enables researchers to build a 3D map of the tumor, which they can inspect while wearing 3D virtual-reality headsets. Additionally, the image gives scientists the opportunity to advance their knowledge of a tumor’s geography.