A new educational campaign developed by the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford aims to make neurodevelopmental disorders easier to understand through a series of animated videos.
The “Genes, Brains, and Breakthroughs” initiative was developed in collaboration with families, researchers, and international patient advocacy organisations. to improve public understanding of genetic and neurological conditions. The campaign covers conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Trisomy 21 (more commonly referred to as Down syndrome), through simplified explanations of genetic mutations and chromosomal differences.
As part of the project, 16 animated videos have been created to explain conditions affecting children’s brain development in an accessible and visually engaging way. The videos explore topics including neurodevelopment, genetic diagnoses, and emerging therapeutic approaches, including gene therapy.
Each animation is inspired by questions and experiences shared by parents and carers seeking to better understand the science behind these conditions. According to the project team, this collaborative approach combines scientific expertise with lived experience and reflects the campaign’s mission to “involve families directly in shaping public engagement with health communication initiatives”.
Dr Narjes Rohani, the lead researcher behind the animations, said the campaign responds to a growing need for trustworthy and accessible information about neurodevelopmental disorders among families, educators, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the wider public. This project comes after a recent investigation by The Guardian regarding concerns of false health advice being popularised online by AI-generated videos.
The educational resources will be shared widely across digital platforms, healthcare settings, schools, and community networks to support greater awareness and inclusion for people living with neurodevelopmental disorders and their communities.
The project is hosted by Oxford University’s Department of Paediatrics. The videos were developed by an international team of scientists, doctors, patient groups, and industry specialists working to improve treatments for rare diseases.
Funding for the initiative was provided by the Public and Community Engagement with Research (PCER) Fund at the University of Oxford and the National Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) in Therapeutic Genomics. Both organisations support public-facing projects designed to translate scientific discovery into practical outcomes, including improving diagnosis and treatment for genetic conditions.
