S3E: A kid-friendly game to learn about indoor environmental health
Official title: Simulation for Environmental Exposure Education (S3E): A Serious Game Platform for Environmental Health Literacy
Funded at Dfusion, INC. · NIH-11333036 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile game helps middle-schoolers learn about everyday indoor environmental exposures and how to reduce health risks like asthma and lead poisoning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dfusion, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scotts Valley, United States) |
| Project start | June 27, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $740,364 |
| NIH project number | 5R44ES034563-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333036 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are middle-school students and their families in accessible communities who can play the game and complete any evaluation activities.
✕Less likely to help
Young children under 11 or individuals without access to a mobile device may not directly benefit from the game.
What this research studies
This NIH-funded project aims to finish building and testing a mobile serious game called S3E that teaches middle-school students how to recognize and respond to risky indoor environmental exposures. Through a 2.5D game world, players explore homes, view real-time environmental data, and practice taking actions to prevent exposure and illness. The game is designed to scaffold learning, improve environmental health literacy, and empower youth to communicate what they learn with family and peers. The effort builds on Phase I work to create an engaging, evidence-based tool for classroom and home use. The study will evaluate how well the game increases knowledge, motivation, and practical action related to reducing indoor environmental risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the game could help children and families reduce exposure to harmful indoor pollutants and prevent related health problems like asthma and lead exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Similar gaming approaches have shown promise in increasing health literacy and promoting protective actions, though this specific indoor exposure focus is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Dfusion, INC.
Scotts Valley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kuhn, Tamara J. — Dfusion, INC.
- Study coordinator: Kuhn, Tamara J.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.