In a lab funded by CCI’s Central Virginia Node, a small startup is quietly creating some of the most realistic artificial brains the world has ever seen. RAM Phantoms, co-founded by Wesley Lohr and Ravi Hadimani, Ph.D., is pushing the boundaries of neuroscience, medical device testing, and even public safety, one squishy, shockingly lifelike brain at a time.
Brains That Feel and Function Like the Real Thing
The startup’s mission is bold: develop anatomically and functionally accurate brain phantoms, which are physical replicas of the human brain that mimic not just shape, but also the mechanical and electromagnetic properties of real brain tissue. These models could transform how technologies like transcranial magnetic stimulation (a non-invasive procedure used to treat conditions such as depression by applying magnetic fields to the brain to influence neural activity) are tested and optimized, while also paving the way for safer helmets, better medical devices, and even more secure scanning systems.
“It folds in with my fingers… that’s exactly how a real brain would act,” said Lohr, demonstrating the texture and behavior of their phantom model on camera (see below). “This is modeled after my brain,” he added. The brain model he holds is anatomically detailed, complete with accurate gyri and sulci (the characteristic folds and grooves of the cerebral cortex).
Unlocking Safer Testing and Smarter Devices
These results are the product of years of innovation. The first RAM Phantom prototypes were made from Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a polymer that approximates the mechanical feel of brain tissue and its response to magnetic stimulation. But Lohr and Hadimani were not satisfied.
“We developed a new composition… earlier we were working with PDMS,” Lohr said. The team has since created two proprietary, patented materials: one that mimics the mechanical properties of brain tissue, and another that replicates its electromagnetic characteristics. These are now used in two separate phantom models, with the goal of eventually unifying both properties in a single model.
From Research to Real-World Impact
The use cases are as exciting as they are diverse. Originally developed to support the testing of TMS devices, the phantoms are now being explored for everything from helmet safety tests and medical device development to the evaluation of security screening systems.
“We are developing new coils… that coil is mounted and used on the head,” explained Hadimani. “The magnetic field induces current in the brain and stimulates or inhibits neurons.”
Phantoms like those developed by RAM offer something no living brain can: safe, repeatable, and ethical testing of new technologies. They allow engineers and researchers to conduct trials that would be too risky or complex to perform on animals or humans.
“Our motivation is to create replicas that match not only structure but also electrical and mechanical properties,” Hadimani emphasized. “We don’t yet have the ability to put [in] networks, those come later.” But that is on the horizon. The RAM team envisions a future where artificial brains do not just simulate tissue, but also neural circuitry, enabling advanced research in neuromodulation, brain-computer interfaces, and more.
The Future of Brain-Based Innovation
What sets RAM Phantoms apart is their high-resolution anatomical fidelity. The brain Lohr holds was modeled from his own MRI scan, using data with up to 0.5 millimeter resolution. Some MRI scans, they note, can go as fine as 0.1 millimeters. It is a level of detail that enables realistic modeling for both scientific research and industrial testing.
The startup is a textbook example of CCI CVN’s mission to turn academic research into real-world impact. By investing in promising early-stage ventures like RAM Phantoms, the program helps bridge the gap between discovery and deployment.
RAM Phantoms’ innovative work has garnered significant external support, including a $75,000 grant from the Commonwealth Commercialization Fund and a $20,000 Dreams2Reality grant from the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative. These funds have been pivotal in advancing research and scaling production capabilities, enabling the team to move from prototype to broader application.
For Lohr and Hadimani, the path ahead is clear. Their next milestone is to develop a single material phantom that combines both electromagnetic and mechanical accuracy, a unified model that could revolutionize how we design and test technologies interacting with the brain.
“The potential uses for these brain phantoms extend far beyond neuromodulation,” said Hadimani. From injury prevention in sports and military settings to the next generation of neurotechnologies, RAM’s work is shaping up to be a cornerstone of tomorrow’s testing landscape.
In a world where human brains are still one of the most mysterious and complex systems we know, RAM Phantoms is offering a smarter, safer, and more scientific way to explore them without ever needing to crack open a skull.
