Exploring DNA research through an immersive VR experience
About the Experience
In this interactive virtual reality experience, users tour the Rochester Genomics Center at the Wilmot Cancer Institute through nine narrated 360-degree scenes. The experience introduces audiences to the lab’s specialized equipment and procedures used to study DNA and genetic code. Users can explore at their own pace, either by following the guided sequence or selecting specific areas from a navigation menu. Designed for outreach and education, the tour helps demystify science and foster engagement with biomedical research.
University of Rochester undergraduates Spencer Ahn ’27 and Sherkeem Duprey ’26 were key collaborators on the project, contributing to video production, editing, and XR development alongside Studio X’s professional staff.
Building the Tour
To bring the Genomics Shared Resource to life in VR, the Studio X team used an Insta360 X3 camera to capture immersive video footage of the lab’s interior. The video was edited in Adobe Premiere Pro, then integrated into a fully interactive tour built in Unity. The finished experience was deployed to Meta Quest 2 and 3 headsets, making the lab accessible in virtual reality for on-site demonstrations, community events, and beyond.
Key Features
- 360° Immersive Footage: Each scene captures the real lab environment, showcasing advanced technologies like robotic pipetting systems and the NovaSeq X-Plus sequencer.
- Narrated Exploration: Audio recorded by Genomics Shared Resource staff provides a clear, accessible guide to the lab’s spaces and processes.
- Multiple Navigation Modes: Users can follow the tour sequentially or choose scenes via an interactive menu—supporting both structured and exploratory use.
- Accessibility Tools: All scenes are captioned, and a YouTube playlist is available for broader public access.
Why Bring DNA Research into Virtual Reality?
After the Wilmot Cancer Institute earned NCI designation, its staff looked for new ways to connect the public with cutting-edge research happening behind the scenes. The Wilmot Community Outreach and Engagement Office revealed a desire from community members to see scientific equipment and labs up close—something that isn’t practical to transport. Inspired by a VR headset collecting dust in a Wilmot office, the Genomics Shared Resource teamed up with Studio X to create a portable, immersive solution.
As Sarah Merritt, Regional Outreach Manager at Wilmot, put it, this project helps “make science less scary.” The tour brings genomics research to life and builds trust by making science more accessible, understandable, and relatable.
