A rare disease natural history study sponsored by Dutch biotech Azafaros is incorporating a unique, animated method of educating its pediatric participants and their families.

The approach, designed by healthcare technology company Cognitant, involves a visually engaging series of one- to two-minute animations designed to educate children, their families and their caregivers about what the study requires of them.

Because the study is taking place across multiple countries, the educational material was designed in multiple languages to maximize its effectiveness.

According to Cognitant, the study is the first to use an educational, visually engaging program to prepare its participants. The content, which was developed over multiple workshops and heavily informed by patient advocacy groups, is accessible through the study’s online resource center.

The recently initiated study is following children with Tay-Sachs disease and Sandhoff disease, two rare inherited disorders that have no cure.