Dunja Rashkova
I’m Dunja, a 3D artist and medical visualiser with a background in 3D computer animation and architectural visualisation, and a love for anatomy and zoology. My work ranges from rigging a game ready Spinosaurus to creating a clinically informed VR PICU for families of children undergoing congenital heart surgery. I love turning medical and scientific ideas into engaging visual experiences, and my happy place is somewhere between a 3D viewport, a beautifully segmented heart, and far too many carefully placed tubes and wires. My forever muse and most loyal creative director is my dog Luna, who continues to cheer me on from the moon.
VR PICU Prototype
Development and Pilot Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Simulation Prototype for Families of Children Undergoing Congenital Heart Surgery
This project delves deep into how virtual reality could help prepare parents for the unfamiliar environment their child may encounter after congenital heart surgery. It was developed in collaboration with the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, under supervisors Dr Matthieu Poyade and Dr Edward Peng, with clinical collaboration from Dr Vivian Bader, Dr Nicole Perry and Nurse Educator Marie McGale. A detailed post-operative paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) was recreated using clinical observation, reference photographs, literature and continuous clinical feedback. The immersive experience allows users to explore the space and become familiar with the medical equipment, tubes, wires, alarms and visual complexity surrounding an infant patient. The prototype was evaluated by 24 experienced registered cardiac and PICU nurses for perceived presence, usability, physical comfort, clinical realism and acceptability. The findings were overall positive, as the overall results support its further development and future evaluation with parents as a potential pre-admission familiarisation tool.
Healthy vs Smoker Lungs Animation
A Breath of Awareness
This anatomical animation compares healthy lungs with a smoker’s lungs, visualising how smoking can change their appearance and function. The contrast highlights the effects of long-term smoke exposure on respiratory health. Modelled using Zbrush and 3dsMax and Textured in Zbrush and Adobe Photoshop.
Volumetric Visualisation
The following works explore how medical scan data can be transformed into clear and informative 3D visualisations. Using CT, MRI and PET datasets in 3D Slicer and MITK, the following were created: pre and post-operative pelvic fracture, internal tooth anatomy, a brain tumour and its surrounding structures, and lung carcinoma. Direct and indirect volume rendering, image registration, filtering, segmentation, surface modelling and colour coding were used to reveal anatomical structure, density, and spatial relationships between the structures.
Lungs and tumor were segmented from a CT scan
Lungs and tumor were segmented from a CT scan through direct and indirect volume rendering
Pre-operative visualisation of a Pelvic Fracture
Direct and Indirect Volume Renders
Direct and Indirect Volume Renders
CT scan Segmented Tooth
CT scan Segmented Tooth
Aortic Aneurysm Alert (AAA!)
An Educational Game for the General Public
Aortic Aneurysm Alert is a collaborative Unity application, with my amazing and talented course mates Laura Hudson and Precious Karley, designed to make learning about aortic aneurysms more visual and engaging. It allows users to explore a series of themed rooms with 3D anatomical models, animations, videos, interactive activities and a final quiz. My main contributions included modelling and developing the main corridor, creating a physics-based player controller for the player to move around the room, and an interactive ray casting feature where the user can click on the buttons in the corridor and enter each door which is a new scene, and building a terminology scene where users can rotate, inspect and highlight anatomical structures of the heart, as well as learn some information about their heart. The final experience combines anatomy, storytelling and gameplay to communicate medical information in an interesting way to the general public.
note: the nurse drawing was made by Precious Karley