Decentralized Science (DeSci) addresses issues such as inefficient funding, outdated infrastructure, and lack of incentive mechanisms in traditional research systems through blockchain technology, promoting a more open, transparent, and efficient model of scientific research.
Authors: Anthony Chan, Shubham Kumar
Translation: Plain Language Blockchain
The lifecycle of scientific research is often filled with obstacles. Taking new drug development as an example, this process is exceptionally long and expensive, fraught with high failure rates—95% of drugs ultimately fail after entering human trials, with average development costs exceeding $2 billion and taking more than 13 years! Additionally, the funding model for academic research is overly biased towards seasoned researchers, leading to a shortage of funding for innovative and non-traditional projects. Meanwhile, the pressure to publish papers or research results has also led to issues such as over-speculation, difficulty in reproducing results, and systemic inequalities, where minority groups often find themselves at a disadvantage. These systemic issues highlight the need for innovative solutions to democratize research funding, promote collaboration, and maintain the integrity of scientific discoveries. Therefore, this article aims to explore two key questions: (1) Why is Decentralized Science (DeSci) needed? (2) How does it address existing problems?
1. What is Decentralized Science (DeSci)?
Decentralized Science (DeSci) is an emerging movement that utilizes blockchain technology to tackle core challenges in the scientific field, such as insufficient funding, lack of transparency, and collaboration difficulties. By employing decentralized technologies like tokens, NFTs, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), DeSci aims to create a more open, community-driven, and incentivized model of scientific research. It promotes transparent funding models, peer review processes, and data sharing by eliminating traditional intermediaries. Projects like VitaDAO, Molecule, and AminoChain demonstrate how decentralized platforms can redefine the funding, conduct, and dissemination of scientific research, bridging the gap between basic research and clinical applications while ensuring ownership and transparency in data management.
2. Problem Statement
1) Inefficiency of the Research Funding System
The current research funding system is highly inefficient, with researchers spending nearly 80% of their time applying for grants and only 20% of their time actually conducting research. Imagine if software developers had to spend most of their energy securing funding instead of focusing on programming; the pace of technological advancement would inevitably slow down significantly, just as existing outdated processes hinder the progress of scientific innovation. The barriers faced by early-career researchers are particularly pronounced, as most funding and resources are dominated by senior scientists. This preferential treatment stifles the emergence of novel and non-traditional ideas while also limiting opportunities, especially in underrepresented regions. Furthermore, centralized, competitive, and conservative funding allocation systems prioritize clichéd and uninspired research over impactful directions.
2) Outdated Research Infrastructure and Fragmented Data Management Systems
The research ecosystem faces severe challenges from outdated infrastructure and fragmented data management systems. Platforms like GitHub for code and Dropbox for data create "information silos," limiting collaborative efficiency. Additionally, many data repositories fail to meet FAIR standards (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability), leading to significant data loss—up to 80% over 20 years, primarily due to issues like broken links. Meanwhile, intellectual property (IP) is often controlled by institutions rather than researchers, meaning that when scientists change institutions, they may lose control over their research, leaving early data and informal collaborations unprotected. These issues, combined with insufficient interoperability between systems and the use of outdated tools like fax machines, not only hinder collaboration but also impede AI-driven research, overall slowing the pace of scientific progress.
3) Low Incentives for Reproducible Experiments and Unpaid Peer Review
Reproducible experiments are a critical part of validating scientific discoveries, yet this phase is severely neglected due to academic journals focusing more on novel findings. This has led to the so-called "replication crisis," with estimates suggesting that 70% of published research cannot be reproduced. Furthermore, scientists often work unpaid during the peer review process, with the time invested in this process estimated to be worth up to $1.5 billion annually. However, this process frequently lacks transparency and fairness. To improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of scientific research, it is essential to address the issues of incentive mechanisms and compatibility.
4) Oligopoly in Scientific Publishing
The global academic publishing market is dominated by five major publishers, controlling nearly 50% of the market share and generating $19 billion in revenue annually, with profit margins as high as 40%. This oligopoly positions publishers as "gatekeepers," prioritizing profit over scientific value. High publication fees (around $2,000 to $12,000 per article) create significant barriers for underfunded researchers, especially scholars in developing regions. In terms of access, the price for a single article can reach $35 to $50, further restricting the dissemination of critical knowledge. These high costs and restrictive policies exacerbate inequalities in knowledge sharing, favoring wealthier institutions and regions while excluding underfunded scientists and communities.
5) The "Valley of Death" in Research
The traditional new drug development process is time-consuming and costly, typically taking 10 to 13 years and exceeding $2 billion to bring a new drug to market. During this process, pharmaceutical companies often operate in silos rather than collaborating in a globally interconnected market, leading to redundant efforts and missed opportunities to jointly tackle diseases like cancer. The most critical barrier in this process is the "valley of death," the stage between basic research and commercialization. During this period, many promising projects require substantial funding to scale, but funding support sharply decreases. With 95% of drugs failing in human trials, this funding gap becomes a significant obstacle, preventing many transformative innovations from reaching the market and benefiting the public.
6) Lack of Patient-Centric Models and Data Privacy Protections in Biomedical Research
Every year, thousands of individuals donate biological samples to support medical research, yet the current system excludes these donors from the lifecycle of their contributions. Donors typically sign a consent form and then have no way to learn about how their samples are used, undermining trust and reducing willingness to participate, resulting in consent rates as low as 25% in major institutions. Centralized systems exacerbate this issue, failing to effectively track the use of samples or properly manage donor consent, while also facing risks of data breaches that threaten the security of sensitive information. This lack of transparency and security limits the availability of high-quality data, slows scientific progress, and hinders the development of life-saving treatments.
3. Solutions
Decentralized Science (DeSci) addresses many significant challenges in the traditional research ecosystem by leveraging blockchain technology, decentralized networks, and new incentive mechanisms. These solutions aim to enhance the accessibility, transparency, funding allocation mechanisms, and collaboration levels in scientific research. Below is an overview of how DeSci addresses key issues in the scientific community:
1) DAOs: Empowering Collaborative Governance in Science
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) provide a decentralized, community-driven framework for resource allocation and decision-making in research. By democratizing resource distribution, DAOs enable scientists, investors, and other stakeholders to propose and vote on research projects, fostering a collaborative and transparent research environment. Real-world example: The BIO protocol serves as a decentralized platform that helps communities fund and accelerate scientific research through blockchain technology. The BIO protocol supports the creation and funding of BioDAOs (biological decentralized autonomous organizations) that focus on specific medical challenges, pooling resources and expertise to drive innovation. Successful cases:
HairDAO: Developed a consumer product for hair loss, Foll1C0ol, and owns the patents through the DAO.
CerebrumDAO: Raised $1.5 million for brain health research, collaborating with Fission Pharma to address neurodegenerative diseases.
ValleyDAO: Focused on synthetic biology, raised $2 million in collaboration with Imperial College London.
AthenaDAO: Concentrated on women's health research, funded a $500,000 project, with 14 intellectual property transactions pending.
CryoDAO: Raised $3 million to advance cryobiology research in collaboration with the Oxford cryotechnology team.
Quantum Biology DAO: Led by a PhD from MIT, pioneering quantum microscopy to unlock new research possibilities.
Long COVID Labs: Led by neuroscientists from Stanford University, accelerating research on long COVID, focusing on health issues affecting millions globally.
2) Decentralized, Persistent, and Accessible Research Data
DeSci platforms provide researchers with a secure and decentralized way to store data, manuscripts, and research materials. Through blockchain technology, these platforms ensure the long-term accessibility of research data, avoiding issues of data unavailability due to broken links ("link rot"). For example, platforms like DeSci Nodes offer decentralized storage, guaranteeing the permanence and immutability of research results. Additionally, DeSci platforms are built around FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). Each dataset is accompanied by metadata detailing how the data was generated, allowing other researchers to easily find and reuse this data. The integration of FAIR principles not only enhances the accessibility of scientific data but also encourages collaboration and reduces waste from redundant research.
3) Incentive Mechanisms for Reproducibility and Peer Review: Addressing the Scientific Reproducibility Crisis
A significant issue in current scientific research is the "reproducibility crisis," where many studies fail to yield the same results in repeated experiments. DeSci is actively addressing this issue by providing rewards to scientists for replicating experiments or reviewing others' research. For instance, the ResearchHub platform, supported by Coinbase founder Brian Armstrong, uses tokens to reward scientists for validating research results, sharing feedback, and participating in peer review. This mechanism incentivizes researchers to carefully scrutinize research findings, ensuring that published studies are more reliable. By promoting collaboration and transparency, DeSci is helping to tackle this long-standing issue in traditional science.
4) Open Access and Programmatic Publishing
DeSci platforms eliminate the paywall barriers of traditional publishing by providing open access options, allowing scientists to freely share their research findings. For example, DeSci Publish enables researchers to upload and disseminate research content without incurring high publication fees, ensuring that scientific discoveries gain broader dissemination and impact. Additionally, programmatic publishing accelerates the process from research to publication by automating tasks such as manuscript submission, formatting, peer review coordination, metadata creation, revision tracking, and dissemination, alleviating the burden of manual submissions and allowing researchers to focus on their scientific work rather than tedious administrative tasks. Real-world example: The Etica Protocol is a decentralized science (DeSci) initiative that is revolutionizing medical research by eliminating intellectual property (IP) restrictions and promoting open-source collaboration. Launched in April 2022 and operating on blockchain technology, Etica allows researchers to freely share their findings and receive financial rewards throughout the research process. By bypassing traditional patent systems and restrictive licensing agreements, Etica creates a fair and efficient framework that accelerates innovation while ensuring affordable treatment options and equitable access to medical advancements.
Core Features
Decentralized Proposals: Researchers submit proposals related to specific diseases, which are evaluated through community voting on the blockchain.
Staking and Voting: Token holders stake Etica Tokens (ETI) to participate in voting, earning rewards for correct votes while facing penalties for incorrect ones, ensuring accountability.
Dynamic Approval Thresholds: The approval threshold for proposals is dynamically adjusted based on voting patterns, balancing fairness and rigor.
Privacy and Transparency: A two-step voting system ensures privacy during the voting process while providing transparency once results are revealed.
Research Areas of the Etica Protocol
The Etica Protocol promotes open-source medical research across several key health challenges, focusing on global diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. At the same time, collaboration on the platform is advancing innovative solutions for Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), while actively addressing global issues like malaria and pneumoconiosis (occupational lung disease). Additionally, Etica supports research on cystic fibrosis (Mucoviscidosis) and addiction issues, as well as longevity research aimed at extending lifespan and fundamental research exploring basic scientific questions. These research areas demonstrate Etica's tangible impact and encourage active participation to drive accessible and equitable medical solutions.
5) IP-NFTs: Empowering Researchers and Ensuring Ownership
Decentralized Science (DeSci) fundamentally transforms the funding, management, and innovation ownership models in scientific research by introducing a transparent and efficient framework, much like how blockchain has disrupted the financial system. DeSci addresses the "valley of death" in research—where many promising projects falter between basic research and commercialization due to a lack of funding support—by leveraging intellectual property non-fungible tokens (IP-NFTs) and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). With DAOs, researchers can directly access a global funding network, bypassing traditional barriers to ensure early projects receive the necessary resources for scaling. This decentralized approach not only accelerates innovation but also democratizes access to funding, fosters global collaboration, and drives scientific progress. IP-NFTs are the core technology of this transformation, built on the Ethereum blockchain, integrating legal contracts, smart contracts, and encrypted private data stored on decentralized platforms like Arweave and Filecoin. By tokenizing research projects, IP-NFTs enable efficient funding, transparent governance, and collective ownership, empowering researchers while ensuring equitable access to scientific outcomes. Here are relevant examples to illustrate this.
Key Advantages of IP-NFTs:
Monetization: Researchers can directly sell IP-NFTs to raise funds for their research and potentially gain substantial financial returns.
- Open Access and Control: IP-NFTs can be combined with open access models, ensuring that research findings are publicly accessible while retaining ownership.
Real-world Example
Molecule is a leading platform that innovates scientific research funding using IP-NFTs. By tokenizing intellectual property, Molecule enables researchers to raise funds directly from a global community of investors, patients, and enthusiasts.
Over $30 million has been raised through the Molecule ecosystem to support decentralized scientific research.
29 research projects have been funded, covering niche areas such as rare diseases and quantum biology.
15,700+ community members, including scientists, investors, and supporters.
$1.95 million directly funded cutting-edge research projects, achieving significant advancements in underfunded areas.
VitaDAO demonstrates the transformative potential of IP-NFTs in scientific research by decentralizing funding and governance through blockchain technology. VitaDAO has deployed over $4.2 million in funding, supporting 24 research projects and evaluating over 200 projects, fostering collaboration and transparency in advancing breakthrough longevity science. Its $6 million in liquid assets showcases how decentralized mechanisms effectively support innovative research and achieve progress in critical scientific fields.
6) Examples of Projects Funded through IP-NFTs
Discovery of New Autophagy Activators
Laboratory: Newcastle University Korolchuk Lab
Research Focus: Searching for compounds to restore autophagy function in aging cells, addressing cellular recycling mechanisms related to aging and disease.
Funding Amount: $285,000
Naked Mole Rat-Based Longevity Biotechnology
Laboratory: Gorbunova Lab
Research Focus: Developing therapies based on high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, leveraging its anti-cancer and lifespan-extending properties.
Funding Amount: $300,000
Longevity Molecules
Laboratory: Scheibye-Knudsen Lab
Research Focus: Using machine learning to analyze 1.04 billion prescription records to identify drugs that can extend human lifespan.
Funding Amount: $537,000
ApoptoSENS: CAR-NK Cells for Eliminating Senescent Cells
Research Focus: Developing CAR-NK cells to clear senescent cells and treat age-related diseases.
Funding Amount: $253,000
Innovative Mitochondrial Autophagy Activators for Alzheimer's Disease
Laboratory: Fang Lab
Research Focus: Utilizing AI to identify candidate drugs that restore mitochondrial autophagy, potentially treating Alzheimer's disease and other age-related conditions.
Funding Amount: $300,000
Reversing Periodontal Disease through Aging Science
Laboratory: An Lab
Research Focus: Testing compounds targeting inflammation to treat age-related periodontitis and improve human healthspan.
Funding Amount: $330,000
ARTAN Bio: Codon Suppression Targeting Aging and Longevity
Company: ARTAN Bio
Research Focus: Developing interventions for nonsense mutations that lead to age-related diseases and cancer.
Funding Amount: $91,300
7) Applications of Decentralization in Biomedical Fields
Decentralized Science (DeSci) offers a transformative solution by placing patients and donors at the center of the research process. Leveraging blockchain technology, DeSci ensures that donors retain control over their biological samples, allowing them to understand how their samples are used and even receive financial rewards when their samples are commercialized. This approach enhances trust and encourages participation. At the same time, decentralized systems provide higher security for sensitive data, ensuring that data is securely stored and only accessible with proper authorization. By replacing centralized data repositories with the transparency and immutability of blockchain, DeSci protects privacy and accelerates progress in biomedical research.
AminoChain: Transforming Biomedical Research through Decentralized Science
AminoChain is fundamentally transforming biomedical research by building a decentralized platform that connects healthcare institutions and empowers patients. The project has raised $7 million in funding, including a $5 million seed round led by a16z crypto and Cercano, to establish a transparent and efficient system for managing biological samples and medical data. At the core of AminoChain is the Amino Node, a software package that integrates with existing healthcare systems (such as electronic medical records and inventory management tools). Amino Node standardizes data into a universal format while ensuring that data is securely stored on institutional servers. By achieving data unification across the network, AminoChain enables the development of patient-centered applications and facilitates collaboration between healthcare institutions. One of its key applications is the Specimen Center, a peer-to-peer marketplace platform for biological samples. Researchers can search for and request samples from biobanks through this platform while maintaining compliance and tracking sample origins. Tasks that traditionally take weeks to complete are streamlined into efficient workflows, accelerating the realization of research outcomes. Notably, donors can track the usage of their samples, gain insights generated from their contributions, and receive financial rewards when their samples are commercialized, further enhancing trust and engagement. AminoChain's uniqueness lies in deeply embedding bioethics into its core operations, prioritizing transparency and benefit-sharing for patients while facilitating research and collaboration in the biomedical field.
4. The Bright Future of Decentralized Science: A Revolution in Research Funding
Decentralized Science (DeSci) is rapidly changing the way research funding and execution are conducted, unlocking new possibilities for innovation and collaboration. Since 2023, more than seven dedicated decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) have been established, collectively evaluating over 2,000 projects and allocating more than $70 million through on-chain channels. These DAOs cover a diverse range of fields, including psychedelic research, hair loss treatments, cryobiology, neuroscience, and cutting-edge quantum biology research. Although only 0.5% of projects currently receive funding, their impact is already significant. Over 3,000 ETH has been invested, driving the development of 5 to 6 new drugs. The first tangible product—a high-dose spermidine supplement—was launched by VitaDAO and approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration, demonstrating the visible results of this revolutionary funding model.
6. Future Project Outlook for DeSci
The potential of DeSci is further evidenced by exciting upcoming projects: 1) Curetopia
Goal: To address over 10,000 rare genetic diseases by uniting patient communities and diverse populations.
- Method: Directly involve patients in research, placing them at the core of the research process, fundamentally changing the approach to rare disease treatment research.
2) Quantum Biology DAO
Goal: To accelerate quantum biology research, promote community building, open governance, and innovative experimentation.
- Mission: To understand and manipulate biological mechanisms at the quantum level, opening new doors for scientific breakthroughs.
7. Major Players Supporting DeSci
The significance of Decentralized Science (DeSci) has attracted the attention of major players in the blockchain space. BN Labs has made a substantial investment in BIO Protocol, a pioneering platform designed to enable global scientists, patients, and investor communities to co-fund and co-own groundbreaking biomedical research. BIO Protocol focuses on key areas such as rare diseases, longevity research, and mental health, and incubates multiple BioDAOs to accelerate patient-driven innovation. Industry leaders like Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) have also expressed support, personally attending a DeSci event in Bangkok. Their involvement highlights the potential of DeSci to revolutionize research funding and methodologies on a global scale. The development of DeSci extends beyond the Ethereum ecosystem, with projects like PumpDotScience on the Solana platform pushing the boundaries of decentralized science. Supported by the Solana Foundation, PumpDotScience allows users to watch real-time scientific experiments and tokenize longevity compounds. This innovative model has achieved rapid success, with its tokens performing exceptionally well after DevCon: the market cap of $RIF reached $106 million, while $URO surged to $39 million. The decentralized science market is rapidly growing, with trading volumes exceeding $25 million and a total market value of $1.2 billion. DeSci tokens such as RSC, VITA, and HAIR, supported by Coinbase founder Brian Armstrong's ResearchHub, are also performing strongly. These figures reflect investors' strong interest and confidence in the potential of DeSci, a field that is redefining the model of scientific development.
8. A New Era of Science: The DeSci Revolution
Decentralized Science (DeSci) is igniting a revolution that fundamentally changes the ways science is funded, implemented, and shared. With the support of industry giants like BN and the advocacy of pioneers like Vitalik Buterin, DeSci is not just a technological innovation but a movement dedicated to democratizing science and addressing major human challenges. Projects like BIO Protocol, Curetopia, and Quantum Biology DAO showcase the potential for achieving true breakthroughs, while cross-chain collaboration extends DeSci's influence from Ethereum to platforms like Solana. This is not merely speculative behavior in blockchain; it is about curing diseases, accelerating development, and making innovation accessible to everyone. DeSci represents an open, collaborative, and inclusive future for science. This is not a fleeting trend but a profound transformation in our approach to progress. As this movement accelerates, we seem to be witnessing the arrival of a new era that holds truly transformative significance for humanity.
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Source: https://v3locity.capital/writing/decentralised-science-de-sci-why-and-how
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