#DeSci - Move Over Big Pharma

How DeSci is democratizing scientific exploration.

It was renowned intellectual, fictionist and biochemist, Isaac Asimov who said that, “Every hour a scientist spends trying to raise funds is an hour lost from important thought and research.” As idealistic as it sounds, the irony is that the pursuit of scientific discovery and innovation often finds itself bogged down by the very means necessary for it to propel forward. 

Such is the paradox for scientists and researchers today, who not only have to be good at what they do, but also have to have the skill sets and the time to navigate bureaucratic hurdles, charm their way through funding constraints, and build networks for collaboration.

Often, funding is constrained not because of a problem with the science itself, but because of the lack of an adequate business model or profit potential.  After all, why build an everlasting light bulb when the ones that fizzle out after a year make for better business? Why bother with a cure for cancer when patients can be lifelong clients instead? 

Though such are the stuff of conspiracy theories, it doesn’t take a stretch of the imagination to wonder not if – but how much truth is behind such conspiracies. Given all the shelved projects and prototypes out there, we can also wonder how far science would have gotten along by now if money had never been an issue.   

Fortunately, the landscape of scientific exploration is evolving, propelled by what could be the next paradigm shift for funding research–decentralized science or “DeSci.”

What is DeSci?

Like how it sounds, decentralized science is a concept that envisions building an open and public infrastructure for the funding, development, and dissemination of scientific research, as opposed to the conventional government, academic, or corporate-backed venture.

But unlike your typical online crowdfunding setup, DeSci leverages technology a step further, utilizing the Web3 stack to create a faster, more secure, and more cost-effective system without compromising openness and accessibility.

In the same way that Bitcoin can facilitate lightning-fast peer-to-peer financial transactions between anyone in the world (without the need for banks or institutional middlemen), the same kind of network can be used to remove all the red tape between scientists and investors, allowing for faster collaboration and resource sharing, and as a result–faster and more accessible scientific breakthroughs.         

How DeSci utilizes Web3 tech

Through the use of blockchain features such as cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and smart contracts, DeSci can take the whole hierarchy of a conventional funding system, and simplify and automate many of its processes, making it exponentially more convenient and accessible. 

Cryptocurrencies can make sending donations as convenient as sending a text message, while projects with their own tokenized economies can use these tokens to automate decision-making and consensus through DAOs. 

Meanwhile, the earning potential of crypto and NFTs in particular, can also be used to boost the fund-generating capacity of a project itself. Projects can launch their own line of NFTs which not only generate revenue through direct sales, but also through the royalties from each resale in the NFT market. 

Meanwhile, smart contracts can be used for various applications within a project. They can be used to validate data and results across the community, or even automatically allocate funds once certain parameters or objectives are met. 

Benefits of DeSci

Thanks to these blockchain features, a decentralized funding system is capable of providing the following benefits:

Faster breakthroughs - Removing bureaucratic processes allows scientists and researchers to focus more on the science itself, accelerating the pace of discovery and innovation.

Reduced bias - A decentralized approach can mitigate bias in research outcomes, as a wider network can provide a diverse range of perspectives and greater scrutiny of the validity of findings. 

Global participation - Worldwide open access can take down geographical and political barriers, and allow researchers to share existing knowledge and build upon each other’s work. Meanwhile, anyone with an internet connection can conveniently and securely donate funds to support a project of choice. 

Transparent resource allocation - With the use of a blockchain ledger, all fund transactions are publicly accounted for, ensuring a fairer and more equitable distribution to deserving participants. 

Incentivized structure - A tokenized system can divert potential profit from a research project to the community itself ( as opposed to a corporation being the main beneficiary in a traditional system). Monetary incentives can also be given to good actors who uphold the network protocols and penalties given to bad actors. 

DeSci projects to investigate

GenomesDAO removes the middleman between between pharma/research organizations and an individual’s genomic data.

AntidoteDAO

AntidoteDAO, a pioneering blockchain initiative, dedicates its efforts to funding cancer research projects through innovative revenue streams. The AntidoteDAO Treasury, fueled by three distinct sources - initial NFT mint sales/secondary market royalties, the $C4C Token's transaction tax, and direct donations - forms the financial backbone.

The $C4C Token, a tradable asset of AntidoteDAO, can be obtained through contributions to the project, unlocking various utilities and rights. Additionally, AntidoteDAO engages the community through an NFT collection, accepting direct donations to the treasury via NFT auctions.

The NFT Library envisioned by AntidoteDAO provides valuable utilities, including charitable donation receipts, exclusive NFTs, merchandise rewards, IP NFTs, and governance rights. With a commitment to advancing cancer research, AntidoteDAO has allocated substantial funds to support crucial projects and organizations in the quest for a cure.

GenomesDAO

Genomes.io, established in 2018 and headquartered in London, is a leading genomic data security company founded by Dr. Mark Hahnel and Aldo de Pape. The UK-registered company offers the public access to clinical-grade whole genome sequencing, personalized genomic reports, and secure data storage through their DNA Vault.

Notably, users retain full ownership and control of their genomic data, contributing to research while maintaining privacy. Genomes.io extends its services to organizations and researchers, providing DNA Vault technology for secure and participant-owned genomic databases.

Distinguishing itself through data ownership, technology partnerships, and whole genome sequencing, Genomes.io pioneers responsible and transparent genomics, empowering individuals and advancing medical innovation.

LabDAO

LabDAO operates with the mission of advancing progress in the life sciences by enhancing accessibility to scientific tools. In an ideal world, scientific potential wouldn't be hindered by funding limitations or restricted infrastructure. Unlike the success of open source code in information technology, the biomedical field faces challenges such as high costs and low reliability.

LabDAO aims to bridge this gap by establishing an open exchange for wet-lab and dry-lab tools, introducing standards for reproducibility, and encouraging contributors to improve biomedical tools. This approach creates a collaborative environment for scientists to seamlessly share specialized tools and services, streamlining experimentation, replication, and global knowledge-sharing within the scientific community.

Molecule

Molecule is an open marketplace which connects biotech companies, academics, and scientists with investor communities for therapeutic research. Their point of difference is the use of blockchain protocols that enable the investors to directly govern the research and own any findings that result from it. This presents a novel pharmaceutical model which makes it easy and convenient for the patient collectives to be the actual stakeholders in the project.  

PsyDAO

PsyDAO operates as a decentralized organization focused on advancing psychedelics research within the web3 and crypto framework. Utilizing open-source models like IP tokenization and IPNFTs, it aims to establish a collective consciousness for ethical psychedelics development. The membership is inclusive, allowing pseudonymous engagement and emphasizing privacy protection.

PsyDAO's innovative IP tokenization system, developed alongside Molecule and VitaDAO, facilitates open research markets and strives to democratize access to psychedelics benefits while preventing monopolies and promoting community governance.

TLDR

The Longevity Decentralized Review or “TLDR” addresses perennial problems for scientists and academics, specifically with the high fees required for having their work peer-reviewed and published in academic journals before getting any public attention. With the use of a decentralized network, researchers and reviewers can be directly compensated for their work, while papers are more extensively scrutinized and are validated through a wider consensus network. 

Halogen

Halogen positions itself as a scientific engine, challenging the limitations of traditional academia. It addresses the current system's inefficiencies, controlled by large journal companies and competing entities, hindering progress. Halogen seeks to establish an advanced collaboration platform, offering scientists a seamless environment to define and solve problems collectively.

The platform's features include a unified hub for collaboration, standard-building, dynamic cross-pollination between fields, and an interactive knowledge graph. Positioned as the base layer for decentralized science (DeSci), Halogen aims to enable decentralized funding and peer review at scale, providing a viable alternative to existing academic structures.

VitaDAO

VitaDAO, a tokenized governance protocol, with the aim of funding unconventional yet groundbreaking projects, emphasizing moonshot ideas with transformative potential. With a primary focus on aging and longevity research, VitaDAO adopts a decentralized, member-driven approach, leveraging blockchain to overcome traditional barriers in funding, regulation, and public skepticism.

Over $4 million has been allocated to date for research initiatives, reflecting VitaDAO's commitment to accelerating progress in longevity science. Their innovative exploration of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) showcases a strategic effort to create environments fostering scientific breakthroughs.

Conclusion

The growing traction of the DeSci movement serves as compelling evidence that blockchain technology is evolving beyond a hype-driven landscape into a thriving industry replete with authentic solutions to the inefficiencies and shortcomings of the web 2.0 era. Beyond the realm of memecoins and flashy NFTs, crypto and blockchains are proving to be serious and groundbreaking technologies with profound real-world, and even life-saving, implications.