U.K.-based medical technology company and virtual reality developer, FundamentalVR, today announced it has closed a funding round for $5.6 million led by Downing Ventures.

The Series A round was joined by medical institutions including the Mayo Clinic, a leader in the medical industry, and Sana Kliniken, Germany’s third-largest hospital organization.

The mission of FundamentalVR is to provide medical personnel with the best simulations for surgeons to practice in a safe, controllable space that emulates real life as closely as possible.

The company does this by providing VR software that delivers high-fidelity experiences combined with high-functioning touch-sensitive hardware that can be delivered on low-cost equipment.

FundamentalVR’s flagship product is its VR “flight simulator for surgeons,” Fundamental Surgery, that gives surgeons a lifelike environment to practice procedures again and again with the benefit of live feedback on performance.

“We identified early on that FundamentalVR’s team was developing a platform that was very special,” Al Sisto, chief executive of Tern Plc, a venture capital company in the UK, commented on the investment. “A training and data analysis offering which could revolutionize the skills development of surgical practice, while at the same time creating a database of significant importance to the industry.”

Earlier this year, the company demonstrated the use of touch-feedback HaptX Gloves from AxonVR LLC in combination with its VR platform. By providing real-time force-feedback to surgeons, the simulated VR environment will both look and feel like an actual procedure done on a living human being. This extra level of immersion closes the gap between simulation and hands-on practice.

Technology using VR has a large array of real-world use cases in the medical industry including Share Care Inc.’s specialized full-body medical VR models, Vivid Vision Inc. use of VR to treat eye disorders and SyncThink Inc.’s neurotechnology platform that can detect severe brain injuries.

FundamentalVR’s funding round was joined by Epic Private Equity and Brighteyes Ventures and places the total amount raised by the company since its initial seed round in June 2013 at $9.6 million.

Image: FundamentalVR