We have a passion to create virtual experiences that make a positive difference in physical health, mental well-being, education, and research. Our product development team is comprised of successful video game veterans. The FireflyVR team combines our extensive experience and science-focused development to build innovative new technologies with health and technology partners. We are honored to collaborate with some of the biggest innovators in the healthcare industry.
Four in ten adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the COVID pandemic. This is just one of many alarming statistics as we face a global and unavoidable mental health crisis. FireflyVR is determined to build new and novel ways to blend technology and therapies to ease this trend.
• Clinically-informed design methodology • Extensive consultation with experts and patients • Comprehensive market research and product analysis •
• Deep experience in healthcare product development • Extensive game development expertise (AAA and #1 App Store titles) • 100+ years experience creating engaging and delightful experiences •
• Create modular experiences that are highly adaptable • Develop in Unity to offer technological extensibility across multiple form factors •
• Develop for a wide variety of trackers, biosensors, and input technologies • Ability to filter and record data to gain insight in therapies, bio signals, and patient behaviors •
Ketamine as a medicine for mental health is a fascinating and quickly emerging field of healthcare, offering great hope for many mental health challenges such as treatment resistant depression. While used as a common anesthetic for over 50 years, Ketamine is being examined under a new spotlight with promising research emerging at an increasing rate. This surge in understanding offers hope at a time when mental health challenges are on the rise, affecting unprecedented numbers of people leading to a global mental health crisis.
Pairing a VR experience with ketamine therapy seemed like a natural combination to develop a tool that increases accessibility and improves effectiveness of the treatment. The FireflyVR team set out to develop the best product to accomplish these goals.
The Sanctuary is a Virtual Reality experience built to prepare a patient for a transformational ketamine treatment. It incorporates established techniques used by leading experts to provide a safe, engaging, and comfortable experience to prepare for meaningful therapy. The Sanctuary is a clinically designed solution that combines cognitive behavioral therapy to help reduce pre-procedure anxiety and develop positive intentions when the medicine is administered, ultimately improving outcomes. The Sanctuary is built with modularity in mind as other dissociative medicines become approved and understood beyond ketamine.
We’re working hard with our team of experts to build and scientifically validate The Sanctuary as ketamine treatment becomes readily available. The modular foundation of The Sanctuary allows us to quickly and effectively adapt the experience to target a vast range of indications and therapies. Our initial target to treat treatment resistant depression is only the beginning of a wide-ranging and impactful journey.
The Sanctuary VR will deliver adjunctive therapy to Patients that reduce their pre-therapy stress and empower self education. Better preparation will lead to improved therapeutic outcomes.
Drug Companies will see benefits by improving efficacy of therapies, increasing competitive differentiation, and providing accretive IP filing opportunities. Use of the product will generate patient data that will enable therapy refinement.
Our product will improve Clinical Networks by expanding access to patients via telehealth. Patient engagement will improve adherence. Data analytics will empower future therapy refinements.
Payors will see a lowered cost of care by improved treatment efficacy and more efficient allocation of resources. Improved access to care will increase patient throughput.
Our software development team has over 100 combined years of software and game industry experience. Our credits include best-selling games from major studios, award-winning indie releases, widely-adopted physics engines, and fundamental engineering algorithms. Paired with our all-star team of science consultants, healthcare experts, and advisors — the FireflyVR team produces unparalleled product.
Entrepreneur and business lead with successful business exits • Crafted multi-year development relationship with UHG, Optum Labs, and others inside healthcare • Working with big names like Atari, THQ, and Universal
Veteran programmer with over seventeen years of industry experience • Major works including Guitar Hero, Medal of Honor, and Words with Friends
Over seventeen years of professional video game development • Producer, designer, and UI artist for world-renowned clients and critically-acclaimed mobile games
Research neuroscientist and medical product developer at Stanford University • Known internationally as an early pioneer in digital medicine and the field of medical virtual reality
13 years experience in management consulting, corporate strategy and development, investor relations • Founder of Impavidus Consulting Group • Epic Capital Management
Programmer and designer for over 15 years • Has worked on dozens of titles across multiple platforms • Developed a neural network to detect music notes
Graphics and simulation programmer with over 15 years of experience • Author of physics engines and tunneling algorithms
Innovating and designing for Digital Therapeutics and Medical VR for 10+ years • Trail-blazed product innovation process at Pear Therapeutics • Served as Director of Clinical Product Development for VR at Penumbra
Psychologist, anthropologist, stress management expert, executive coach, filmmaker, meditator, lover of wisdom teachers
Psychology researcher, scientific journal editor, professor • Founding chair of a doctoral program in integral and transpersonal psychology
Professional musician 25+ years • Appears on 100s of pop recordings in Europe and Russia • Created music for film, advertisements, TV shows, and video games internationally
Artist and former Art Director • Supervised dozens of learning games and simulations, helped pioneer VR in STEM training and humanities education
Research neuroscientist and medical product developer at Stanford University • Known internationally as an early pioneer in digital medicine and the field of medical virtual reality
Ben’s focus is to make disease a historical artifact, enabling longer, healthier lives • Current Founding Partner for CWWDA (Connected World W/out Disease Accelerator) • Former global head of WWD Accelerator and VP at Johnson & Johnson • SVP at UHG R&D
Recently retired as COO of UnitedHealth Group Brazil, UHG’s largest business outside of the US • Successfully led businesses on three continents • Core leadership strengths include financial management, strategy development, operational execution, and health care compliance
Serial entrepreneur, technology professional, and business strategist • Produced and published more than a dozen products for health and wellness with two FDA approvals • Currently the CEO of Oncoustics while advising start-ups and accelerators
Deep and successful background in the healthcare industry • Co-Founder and President of Bright Health • Founder and CEO of RedBrick Health • Founder and CEO of Definity Health
Extensive experience building, investing in, and advising healthcare businesses • Chief Development Officer of BioIntelliSense • Former Vice President of Ventures at UnitedHealth Group Research & Development
Senior Vice President of UnitedHealth Group Research & Development • Respected leader in the healthcare technology space • Has held leadership roles in the private equity medical startup space, and financial services industry
Strong background in securities and corporate finance • Extensive experience across the spectrum of the health care supply chain
30+ year on staff at Mayo Clinic • Founder and Research Director of Integrative Medicine Program • Professor of Medicine • Forefront of combining conventional medicine with complementary evidence-based therapies
Owner of Bloom Health and Wellness • Board-certified emergency medicine physician • Former U.S. Army Major, Brigade Surgeon • Emergency Dept. Medical Director • Integrates holistic approaches to clinical medicine • Pioneering use of VR into his practice
CEO Ark Integrative Medicine • Board-certified anesthesiologist +20 years • Pioneer in Ketamine-assisted therapy since 2016 • Early adopter of VR for patient care • Care team utilizes holistic approach in mental health and wellness
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