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Oxford VR
Oxford VR, a 2017 University of Oxford spinout, delivers automated VR therapy reimbursed by the NHS—treating phobias, psychosis, and social anxiety.
Oxford VR
Oxford VR was founded in 2017 as a spinout from the University of Oxford's Department of Psychiatry, commercializing the work of Professor Daniel Freeman. It builds automated cognitive behavioral therapy delivered through virtual reality, removing the need for a human therapist in the room. The company's founding insight—that immersive VR environments can trigger and treat anxiety disorders more effectively than imagination alone—came from two decades of clinical research. The company's core product is a VR platform that delivers automated CBT modules for specific conditions. It covers acrophobia, social anxiety, and psychosis. Its gameChange program for severe agoraphobia in psychosis patients was the largest clinical trial of VR therapy ever conducted, with results published in The Lancet in 2022. In 2019, Oxford VR became the first digital therapeutic to receive NHS funding through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies program, deploying in clinics across England. The platform also targets markets in the US and Hong Kong, with pilots in primary care and employer wellness programs. The firm operates from its headquarters in Oxford, with regional offices in London, Boston, and Hong Kong. The company's platform is designed to scale within public health systems like the NHS and US Veterans Health Administration. In February 2023, Oxford VR raised a £10 million Series B led by Optum Ventures and Luminous Ventures, bringing total funding to roughly £24 million since inception, per public filings. Oxford VR is structured as a venture-backed health technology company, distinct from a typical family office. Its model ties reimbursement to validated clinical outcomes, not per-session therapist billing—a structural shift that aligns its interests with health systems seeking lower per-patient costs. The firm's governance includes academic founders and a board shaped by UK deep-tech and US healthcare investors, creating a bridge between university research and commercial medical device regulation.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
2017
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
City
Oxford
Corporate office
Oxford, United Kingdom
Additional offices
London, United Kingdom · Hong Kong · Boston, United States
Principals
Barnaby Perks
CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who developed Oxford VR's underlying clinical methodology?
Professor Daniel Freeman, a clinical psychologist at the University of Oxford, led the foundational research. His two decades of work on virtual reality treatment for psychosis and anxiety disorders form the evidence base for Oxford VR's automated therapy modules. The gameChange trial he designed remains the largest clinical study of VR for mental health.
How does Oxford VR's reimbursement model differ from traditional therapy?
Oxford VR's platform is reimbursed per completed treatment module rather than per therapist hour. The NHS agreed to fund its use through the IAPT program in 2019, recognizing it as a clinically effective, lower-cost alternative to face-to-face CBT. This outcome-based pricing aligns the company's incentives with health system cost reduction.
Which conditions does Oxford VR currently treat?
Its platform addresses acrophobia, social anxiety, and psychosis-related agoraphobia. The gameChange program targets the severe avoidance behaviors common in psychosis patients who struggle to leave their homes. Each module is automated, requiring no live clinician during the VR session.
What was the significance of the 2019 NHS IAPT contract?
The contract made Oxford VR the first automated digital therapeutic funded through NHS Talking Therapies. It marked a regulatory and reimbursement milestone, proving a VR-only treatment could pass NICE evidence standards and receive public funding. Deployments began in NHS trusts across the East of England.
Is Oxford VR a single family office?
No. Oxford VR is a venture-capital-backed health technology company, not a family office or wealth management entity. Its capitalization comes from institutional investors including Optum Ventures, Luminous Ventures, and Oxford Sciences Innovation, with the University of Oxford retaining an equity stake.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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