Virtual reality is no longer just the future of gaming – it’s becoming the future of emergency medicine. At the forefront of this shift is Khora, a leading Scandinavian production studio dedicated to unlocking the real-world value of VR, AR, AI, and 3D across multiple industries and institutions.
In collaboration with the Department of Children and Adolescents Rigshospitalet of the Region Hovedstaden (Denmark), Khora has participated in the XR2Learn accelerator programme and developed NEONATAL, a groundbreaking, VR-driven resuscitation training application for European healthcare workers.
XR2Learn (Horizon Europe) aimed to establish cross-border creation of human-centric XR applications and immersive experiences in education, training and distance learning.
In this interview, Laura Werup – Senior Strategist at Khora, shares insights about muscle memory, clinical trials, and how this emerging tech is scaling across Europe to save newborn lives.
1. Why are you doing what you’re doing?
Despite global advances in healthcare, neonatal mortality remains a critical issue, accounting for 44% of all deaths in children under five. While effective neonatal resuscitation can save these lives, traditional training for healthcare workers is complex, resource-intensive, and often inaccessible. There is a severe global shortage of flexible, continuous training solutions, leaving many healthcare providers under-equipped and lacking the confidence to act swiftly and effectively during high-stakes neonatal emergencies.
2. How are you solving it?
We are solving this with NEONATAL, a simulated Virtual Reality (VR) training application that delivers situated, just-in-time training to strengthen healthcare workers’ neonatal resuscitation skills. The application immerses users in realistic, high-stakes medical scenarios, offering repeatable practice in a safe environment. This build-up of muscle memory and clinical confidence prepares healthcare workers to deliver life-saving care to newborns in emergencies.
3. How is your company adding value?
Our value is the powerful mix of technological and clinical excellence. We combine the expertise of Khora – an award-winning XR studio with over 600+ XR applications in its portfolio, North Zealand University Hospital, and the Rigshospitalet Global Health Unit in Denmark. We have rigorously evaluated the training’s effect on healthcare workers’ knowledge and skills through a randomised controlled trial (RCT) with proven clinical feasibility and usability. NEONATAL is a cost-effective and scalable solution ready to drive systemic, equitable improvements in emergency preparedness.
4. What was the best thing about the XR2Learn programme?
The best thing about participating in XR2Learn was the acceleration it provided in transitioning NEONATAL from an early pilot into a market-ready European solution. Through the programme, we technically adapted two training scenarios for a European healthcare context, evaluated their impact on clinical knowledge and skills via a randomised controlled trial during the Execution Phase, and evaluated the business potential. Now, we are building partnerships and developing strategies to scale NEONATAL so we can help healthcare workers worldwide be better prepared to save newborn lives.
