Speeding up medical research with puzzle fanatics as co-researchers
Unmask is a puzzle game where players provide real, valuable research data, as they attempt to crack the codes that perplex cancer research.
By turning the research challenge into a literal game, Unmask creates an easy and fun incentive for players to get involved in citizen science.
How does a puzzle game provide data for medical research?
Lymphoma studies are on the search for the binding places of microRNA to messenger RNA, important players in the development of healthy cells.
Computer algorithms have failed to reliably predict all possible binding places.
People are simply better puzzle-solvers: better equipped to recognise patterns and think creatively.
And people love to play, making a game the perfect way to motivate citizen scientists to get involved.
