Using AI, neurocognitive computing, and gamified apps like Fooya!, this non-invasive innovation helps children build healthier habits, aiming to reduce risks of lifestyle diseases and infections. With its potential for school-based deployment, it offers a scalable, forward-looking model for India’s public health goals.

The journey of Digital Vaccines began with Bhargav Sri Prakash, a biomedical tech entrepreneur who founded FriendsLearn in 2013. Inspired by personal experiences as a parent and disillusioned by the profit-first approach of modern medicine, Bhargav set out to create a tech-enabled, preventive solution. Combining machine learning, neurocognitive computing, and augmented reality, his team developed a tool that could stimulate the brain-gut-immune axis to lower disease risks for children—ranging from diabetes and heart disease to COVID-19.

A novel approach to disease prevention

Operating in the emerging space of digital therapeutics, Digital Vaccines work through mobile platforms to influence behavioral change. At the heart of this approach is Fooya!, a gamified app that trains children’s brains to make healthier lifestyle choices. By linking neurocognitive triggers with real-world decision-making, the app helps instill positive habits early on. The games are age-appropriate and tied to school-grade levels, making them both accessible and engaging for children.

Global recognition and scientific validation

The innovation earned the world’s first patent for Digital Vaccines from the US Patent and Trademark Office, marking a significant milestone in non-invasive health tech. FriendsLearn’s work is backed by global institutions like Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, and Johns Hopkins, which have supported clinical studies and randomized control trials proving the efficacy of the technology. These studies have shown tangible reductions in behavioral risk factors for major diseases.

Digital Vaccines are strategically aligned with India’s current public health goals, especially the push for early intervention and disease prevention. The innovation supports the National Health Mission and India’s School Health Programme by offering a digital-first, behavior-focused intervention that can be rolled out across classrooms. In addition, it addresses rising concerns about non-communicable diseases among children—a priority for India’s shift towards long-term health resilience under initiatives like Viksit Bharat and Digital India.

Ethical and responsible deployment

FriendsLearn maintains high standards of ethical conduct and data privacy, particularly due to its work with children. The company uses a subscription-based model to avoid advertising-driven conflicts of interest and complies with global data privacy norms like COPPA and GDPR. Every step of deployment—from design to data handling—is vetted to ensure safety, transparency, and trust among parents, educators, and policymakers.

With its blend of cutting-edge technology and child-centered design, Digital Vaccines are poised to become a global benchmark in preventive healthcare. As the innovation gains ground in Indian classrooms and health policy, it presents a powerful case for how AI can serve public health without clinical intervention. By supporting healthier decision-making in children, FriendsLearn is laying the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient generation—and a digitally empowered India.