Decentralized science (DeSci) is an emerging field that leverages blockchain and other decentralized technologies to revolutionize scientific research and development. DeSci enables collaboration and incentivizes knowledge sharing while also ensuring transparency, reproducibility, and security in research. In this article, we will introduce five DeSci projects that are making significant strides in advancing scientific innovation. These projects include Molecule, VitaDAO, SCINET, LabDAO, and AntidoteDAO, each with unique approaches to transforming the scientific landscape. Let’s inspect each of these innovative projects and the potential impact they may have on the future of scientific research.
Molecule
Molecule is a decentralized biotech protocol that has gained significant attention in decentralized science. It aims to revolutionize the biotech industry by creating a Web3 marketplace for research-related IP, which connects academics and biotech companies with quick and easy funding while enabling patient, researcher, and investor communities to govern and own research-related IP.
At its core, Molecule has created a hybrid legal-smart contract primitive called an IP-NFT, which unifies the legal rights, data access, and economics around research projects into cryptographic tokens on Ethereum. This enables researchers and funders to meet on Molecule Discovery, a marketplace that facilitates matchmaking between researchers and funders for translational research projects. In this marketplace, they can propose and evaluate research proposals, negotiate terms, and come to agreements.
Through the use of IP-NFTs, biomedical researchers, biotech companies, and technology transfer offices (TTOs) can fundraise without having to pursue patents or create startups at an early stage. By utilizing a public marketplace, these stakeholders can also engage directly with patients and collaborate with other researchers to advance the principles of open science. IP-NFTs offer the potential for unique funding and monetization strategies that leverage the power of data marketplaces and provide enhanced control over research data collaboration.
To foster demand and supply for the marketplace, Molecule has also developed a unique incubator/accelerator program called bio.xyz. Through this program, Molecule builds and incubates bioDAOs, a new class of decentralized biotech IP and R&D organizations. These BioDAO communities consist of patients, researchers, and enthusiasts coming together to fund research in specific therapeutic areas. Overall, Molecule’s platform and scalable framework for biotech DAOs are helping to create a more transparent, efficient, and collaborative biotech industry.
VitaDAO
VitaDAO is a unique collective committed to financing longevity research with the aim of improving people’s lives. The organization is run by a community of researchers, technologists, and funding partners dedicated to supporting you through the application process, funding your projects, and beyond. With VitaDAO, users benefit from a faster, more efficient funding process. The Dealflow team of VitaDAO ensures a swift and uncomplicated funding process, allowing you more time to concentrate on your research. The average funding process takes only 103 days, and you have a single point of contact throughout.
VitaDAO is committed to supporting innovative research. As an independent, self-governed organization, VitaDAO backs highly novel projects that present higher risk but have the potential to make revolutionary contributions to science. VitaDAO also provides a supportive community invested in the outcomes of your research. Whether you need funding, feedback, or want to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the field, VitaDAO welcomes you to join our community of skilled and diverse researchers.
Applications for VitaDAO funding are welcome from researchers across the globe at any stage of their career, including professors, research scientists, post-doctoral researchers, and students, as well as biotech startups. VitaDAO is seeking therapeutic interventions that extend healthy lifespan across different species or treat or prevent multiple age-related diseases where data on lifespan is not available.
The primary focus of VitaDAO funding is on translational R&D, with a plan for developing new therapeutics or diagnostics with a patentable composition of matter IP that have potential commercial value. Typically, VitaDAO’s grants cover 1-2 years of R&D and are worth $250k. While funding may vary, lower budgets are given priority. Ideally, funding should be milestone-based, with a budget allocated for a “killer experiment” and more funding available upon success.
SCINET
SCINET is a decentralized platform that employs blockchain technology to revolutionize the way science is conducted and supported. It offers a holistic research ecosystem that enables retail and institutional investors to invest in life sciences research and technology with authenticity and security.
Some benefits of using SCINET include access to a revolutionary blockchain-powered cloud laboratory that enhances research, the ability to secure intellectual property by documenting it on an immutable blockchain, and the opportunity to fund research projects with untapped sources of investor funding. SCINET offers decentralized publishing and peer review services, allowing researchers to publish their findings and receive rigorous peer review from the global scientific community. Collaborating with scientists around the world is made easy, and data can be securely monetized. Investors also have the chance to take part in the growth, potential, and excitement of the next generation of life sciences research.
SCINET’s digital laboratory is a unique solution that enhances the traditional laboratory setup with an intuitive user interface that promotes good science, meets regulatory compliance, and facilitates collaboration. Unlike non-compliant digital tools like word processors, or even last-generation electronic lab notebooks, SCINET’s laboratory provides an organic enhancement to the traditional laboratory setup.
One of the unique features of SCINET is that it provides access to a unique asset class for your portfolio or clients, whether you are a retail investor seeking an exciting investment opportunity, an asset manager looking to diversify, or a general partner for a venture capitalist firm. SCINET’s platform provides one-of-a-kind investment opportunities, allowing investors to invest directly in life sciences research and technology with security and authenticity.
SCINET offers various options for funding and revenue to help labs accomplish their research goals. These options range from fundraising for a new research project to university spin-offs and blockchain-based data publication. SCINET’s additional funding sources and revenue streams for your lab provide a unique and innovative solution for labs to raise funds and monetize their data.
LabDAO
LabDAO is a new type of research organization that enables computational life sciences to make progress. It is a community-owned ARPA built for the internet age that provides the tools and community needed for independent researchers or those affiliated with universities to access funding, collaborate with others, and conduct research.
With LabDAO, researchers can start leading research projects at any stage of their career without any gatekeepers or the need to wait for big grants or their own lab. They can easily start a biotech or license their technology while owning their IP without the need for complex terms or lengthy negotiations with a tech transfer office.
Researchers can choose how they want to create an impact with their findings, whether it is by publishing their research, launching a startup, or creating an open-source tool. They can share their research where and when it makes sense, without the pressure of publishing or perishing. LabDAO makes it easy for researchers to kick off a project in less than five minutes with a short description of their research goal, recruit collaborators, apply for grants, and manage grant funding. Even if researchers don’t have an idea to pursue at the moment, they can still contribute to existing projects by joining the LabDAO community.
LabDAO offers researchers access to a dedicated network of tools and labs to perform state-of-the-art life sciences research. The organization is developing an open-source network of computational tools and labs, allowing scientists to focus on their strengths and conduct research at an industry pace.
With just a laptop, researchers can access various tools, including a JupyterHub for all their collaborators to run tools for small-molecule docking, RNA-Seq analysis, protein design, and more. LabDAO also provides one petabyte of cloud storage and distributed computing infrastructure. Additionally, over 3000 contract labs are available for wet-lab experiments.
Through LabDAO’s network of tools and labs, researchers can conduct cutting-edge research and collaborate with other scientists, regardless of location. The platform provides a unique opportunity for scientists to access the resources they need to make breakthrough discoveries and advancements in life sciences.
AntidoteDAO
AntidoteDAO is a unique decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) that focuses on funding cancer initiatives directly. Initially, they launched Cancer Coin on the BSC Network but soon moved to the ETH Network and created a DAO to increase community trust and make the project community-controlled. The AntidoteDAO’s core is the Genesis NFT Collection, consisting of 500 randomly generated Antidote-themed pixel art NFTs that give holders governance in the DAO.
Holders of multiple NFTs will be eligible for free merchandise, exclusive 1/1 NFT auctions supporting patients, and future intellectual property from the grants funded. A majority of the initial and secondary sales proceeds will be contributed to the DAO’s treasury, perpetually funding it. Additionally, AntidoteDAO accepts direct donations through fiat or cryptocurrency, and the treasury will manage and hold a collection of NFT-based intellectual property from select projects, collecting licensing fees for access.
AntidoteDAO’s decision-making process is decentralized and community-guided, with rules and voting systems dictating the allocation of treasury funds within the charitable organization’s framework. The DAO aims to focus on funding and developing projects aligned with its core principles, with the goal of making a significant impact in the fight against cancer.
AntidoteDAO is built on a set of core principles that guide its mission of funding cancer initiatives using the crypto community. One of the key principles is to leverage the crypto community to find a cure for cancer. The aim is to decrease the time and effort that scientists spend writing grants to gain funding, making research more efficient. Additionally, AntidoteDAO aims to promote decentralized science and open science principles to enable the best researchers to participate in its initiatives and make them more effective.
Another principle is to enable the research and development community to utilize blockchain-based technology, making these efforts more transparent and efficient. AntidoteDAO is also focused on creating a strong financial ecosystem for its $C4C token and NFTs. By leveraging its small community, the project aims to illustrate the positive impact that Crypto can have on the global community and publicize its success, and grow its community accordingly.
AntidoteDAO believes that all community members’ voices should be heard and carry weight, not just the voice of the people with the largest financial stake. To support its funding initiatives, AntidoteDAO will globally use the Crypto4Cancer platform, which offers small-sized grants (5ETH) through Crypto 4 Community, medium-sized grants (10ETH) through Crypto 4 Collaboration, and large-sized seed grants (30ETH) through Crypto 4 Cure. These grants will be sponsored by the DAO and vetted by its Scientific Advisory Board.
Conclusion
Decentralized science (DeSci) is a revolutionary field with enormous potential for advancing scientific research in various areas, including biotech, longevity, computational life sciences, and cancer research. The five DeSci projects covered in this article – Molecule, VitaDAO, SCINET, LabDAO, and AntidoteDAO – each offer unique solutions to some of the major challenges facing traditional scientific research, such as funding, collaboration, and access to resources.
These projects utilize blockchain and decentralized technologies to create more efficient, transparent, and community-driven research environments. By leveraging the power of decentralized networks, DeSci projects have the potential to make scientific research more accessible, collaborative, and impactful.
The future of DeSci looks promising, and we can expect to see more innovative projects and collaborations in this field in the coming years. As decentralized technologies continue to grow, we may see more traditional scientific institutions adopting these approaches to enhance their research capabilities. Ultimately, the success of DeSci projects will depend on the support and engagement of their communities, and we look forward to seeing how these projects develop and contribute to the advancement of scientific research.
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