Social Innovations

About Abcalis:
Abcalis is a startup in the biotechnology department at TU Braunschweig. The company provides animal-free and component-free antibodies and services that support diagnostic companies and researchers worldwide in optimizing the quality, continuity, and reliability of their tests and experiments. Founded within the Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology, and Bioinformatics, the establishment was supported through funding from an EXIST research transfer program led by Prof. Dr. Stefan Dübel. Abcalis actively contributes to avoiding the use of animals in research and making this field more sustainable.

Our questions were answered by Dr. Laila Al-Halabi-Frenzel, founder and CEO of Abcalis:

What role do social (animal welfare) aspects play in your motivation? How do technical-scientific and social aspects relate in your work?
There has been a dynamic development over time: during the initial idea and preparations for the foundation and acquisition of funding, animal welfare aspects played a minor role, with the focus on improving the quality of our products, among other things. As we established an identity as a company later on, these aspects gained more importance, and nowadays, they shape our profile and daily work - not least due to the influence of our customers.

Do you feel that this social aspect is adequately recognized in science and public perception?
The aspect of animal welfare is definitely recognized in public perception. We are also frequently contacted by industry due to our animal-free testing, but there are local differences in this regard. For example, the UK invests a lot in animal-free testing, while other countries consider this aspect less in decision-making. However, in science, animal-free testing is less of a reason to collaborate with us.

Can we assist you in conveying these social aspects of your service, especially with educational initiatives, invitations to thematic events, etc. ?
Yes, we are engaged in various ways beyond our own business activities to educate and communicate about animal-free diagnostics and sustainability issues. We are open to utilizing avenues to raise visibility on this topic.

About VRalive:
The journey of VRalive began in 2019 as a research project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), which evolved into an independent company in September 2023. VRalive's core competency lies in developing user-friendly, interactive virtual reality applications specifically designed for the healthcare sector. The focus of the past research project was on promoting social interaction, well-being, and participation in care and senior facilities. VRalive is passionately committed to enhancing the quality of life for elderly people in need of care through the use of innovative technologies.

Our questions were answered by Prof. Dr. Beate Muschalla, Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Diagnostics at the Institute of Psychology at the TU Braunschweig and project leader:

What are the greatest benefits that seniors derive from your work?
Seniors can experience places and events that would not be possible in real life due to limited mobility and physical discomfort. For this purpose, we have created a virtual holiday home with a garden for picking strawberries, a kitchen for baking pizza, and a living room for cozy furnishings, as well as sorting photos to evoke memories.

How is the offering received by the target audience?
Very well - VR technology can be introduced to seniors with support from facilitators. Trying it out or watching others try it out is the keyword. Seniors were also fascinated by the designs of the experiences.

And what role does this feedback play for your own motivation? How would you assess the relationship between technical-scientific, psychological, and social aspects in your work?
The interplay of technology and social interaction has proven successful here: Seniors have experienced the VR activities together in small groups. A technology facilitator was always present. Therefore, there was a lot of activation and exchange about the VR experiences.

Do you feel that the social aspects of your work are adequately recognized in science and public perception?
In the region of nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, and from other working groups, we have already received numerous inquiries. The developments and collaborations will continue.