Written by: Anthony Chan, Shubham Kumar Translated by: Vernacular Blockchain

In the life cycle of scientific research , are often filled with obstacles. Take the research and development of new drugs as an example. This process is extremely long and expensive, and is full of challenges with a high failure rate - 95% of drugs ultimately fail after entering human trials, with the average research and development cost exceeding $2 billion and taking more than 13 years! In addition, the funding model for academic research is too biased towards senior researchers, resulting in a shortage of funding for innovative and non-traditional projects. At the same time, the pressure to publish papers or research results has also led to problems such as excessive speculation, difficulty in replicating results, and systemic inequalities in which minority groups are often disadvantaged. These systemic problems highlight the need for innovative solutions to democratize research funding, promote collaboration, and preserve the integrity of scientific discovery. Therefore, this article aims to explore two key questions: (1) Why is decentralized science (DeSci) needed? (2) How does it solve existing problems?

1. What is decentralized science (DeSci)?

Decentralized Science (DeSci) is an emerging movement that uses blockchain technology to solve core challenges in science, such as insufficient funding, lack of transparency, and Cooperation problems. By using decentralized technologies such as Tokens, NFTs, and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), DeSci is committed to building a more open, community-driven, and incentive-based scientific research model. It promotes transparent funding models, peer review processes, and data sharing by eliminating traditional middlemen. DeSci projects like VitaDAO, Molecule, and AminoChain demonstrate how decentralized platforms can redefine how scientific research is funded, conducted, and disseminated, bridging the gap between basic research and clinical applications while ensuring ownership and transparency of data management .

2. Problem statement

1) The scientific research funding system is inefficient

The current scientific research funding system The efficiency is extremely low. Researchers need to spend nearly 80% of their time applying for funding, and only 20% of their time can be actually used for research. Just imagine, if software developers also have to spend most of their energy fighting for funding instead of focusing on programming, the pace of technological progress is bound to slow down significantly, just as existing backward processes are hindering the progress of scientific innovation. Barriers faced by junior researchers are particularly significant, with most funding andResources are occupied by senior scientists. This preferential treatment inhibits the creation of novel and unconventional ideas while also limiting opportunities, especially in underrepresented areas. Furthermore, a centralized, competitive, and conservative funding allocation system prioritizes clichéd and boring research over high-impact directions.

2) Outdated scientific research infrastructure and decentralized data management system

Scientific research ecosystem Facing serious challenges of outdated infrastructure and decentralized data management systems. Platforms like GitHub for code and Dropbox for data form "information islands" that limit collaboration efficiency. In addition, many data repositories fail to meet FAIR standards (findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability), resulting in massive data loss—as high as 80% in 20 years, primarily due to linking Failure and other issues. At the same time, intellectual property (IP) is often controlled by institutions rather than researchers, which means that when scientists change institutions, they may lose control of their research, resulting in early data and informal collaborations not being effectively protected. These issues, coupled with a lack of interoperability between systems and the use of older tools like fax machines, not only hinder collaboration but also hinder AI-driven research and overall slow the pace of scientific progress.

3) Low-incentive repeated experiments and free peer review

Repeated experiments are verification It is a key link in scientific discovery, but as academic journals focus more on novel discoveries, this link has been seriously ignored. This has led to the so-called "reproducibility crisis", with an estimated 70% of published research failing to be replicated. Additionally, scientists often work unpaid in the peer review process, a process whose time investment is estimated to be worth up to $1.5 billion annually. However, this process often lacks transparency and fairness. In order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of overall scientific research, the issue of incentive mechanisms and compatibility must be resolved.

4) Oligopoly in scientific publishing

The global academic publishing market is dominated by the five largest publishers Monopoly, it controls nearly 50% of the market share, generates annual revenue of US$19 billion, and has profit margins as high as 40%. This oligopoly makes publishers "gatekeepers" who put profits ahead of scientific value. High publication costs (approximately $2,000 to $12,000 per article) create significant barriers for underfunded researchers, especially those from developing regions. existAt the access level, individual articles cost as much as $35 to $50, further limiting the dissemination of critical knowledge. These high costs and restrictions contribute to inequalities in knowledge sharing, prioritizing wealthier institutions and regions and excluding underfunded scientists and communities.

5) The "Valley of Death" in the research field

The traditional new drug research and development process consumes It is time-consuming and expensive, often taking 10 to 13 years and costing more than $2 billion to bring a new drug to market. In the process, pharmaceutical companies often operate in silos rather than working together in a globally connected market, resulting in duplication of effort and missed opportunities to join forces to attack diseases such as cancer. The most critical obstacle in this process is the "Valley of Death", the stage between basic research and commercialization. During this period, many promising projects that required significant funding to achieve scale experienced a sharp decline in financial support. With 95% of drugs failing in human trials, this funding gap is a major barrier that prevents many transformative innovations from reaching the market and benefiting people's lives.

6) There is a lack of patient-centered model and data privacy protection in biomedical research

Thousands of people donate biological samples each year to support medical research, but the current system excludes these donors from the lifetime of their contribution. Donors typically sign a consent form and no longer know how their sample will be used, which erodes trust and reduces willingness to participate, resulting in consent rates as low as 25% at major institutions. Centralized systems exacerbate this problem and are unable to effectively track sample usage or properly manage donor consent, while also being at risk 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. Solution

Decentralized Science (DeSci) solves the problem by using blockchain technology, decentralized networks and new incentive mechanisms. Many major challenges in the traditional scientific research ecosystem. These solutions are designed to improve the accessibility, transparency, funding and collaboration of scientific research. The following is a general overview of how DeSci addresses key issues in the scientific community:

1) DAO: Enabling collaborative governance in science

Decentralized Autonomous Organization (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) provide a decentralized, community-driven resource allocation and decision-making framework for scientific research. By democratizing resource allocation, DAOs enable scientists, investors, and other stakeholders to jointly propose and vote on scientific research projects, thereby promoting a collaborative and transparent research environment. Practical Case BIO Protocol serves as a decentralized platform that helps the community 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. Success Stories

HairDAO: Developed Foll1C0ol, a consumer product to treat hair loss, and holds all DAO patents.

CerebrumDAO: Raises $1.5M for brain health research, partners with Fission Pharma to tackle neurodegenerative diseases.

ValleyDAO: Focusing on the field of synthetic biology, it raised $2 million and collaborated with Imperial College London.

AthenaDAO: Focusing on women's health research, has funded $500,000 in projects and has 14 IP deals pending.

CryoDAO: Raising $3 million to advance cryobiology research, working with the Oxford Cryotechnology team.

Quantum Biology DAO: Led by PhDs from MIT, it pioneers quantum microscopy and opens up new research possibilities.

Long COVID Labs: Led by neuroscientists at Stanford University, it accelerates research on COVID-19 and focuses on the health issues of millions of affected people around the world.

2) Decentralized, durable and accessible research data

DeSci platform is Provides 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 data loss due to link failure (link rot)Unavailability issue. For example, platforms like DeSci Nodes provide decentralized storage, guaranteeing the permanence and unchangeability of research results. Additionally, the DeSci platform is built with the FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) at its core. Metadata is attached to each dataset detailing how the data was generated, making it easy for other researchers to find and reuse the data. The integration of FAIR principles not only improves the accessibility of scientific data, it also encourages collaboration and reduces the waste of duplicative research.

3) Replication and peer review incentive mechanism: solving the problem of scientific replication

Currently A major problem in scientific research is the "replication crisis", which is the inability of many studies to obtain the same results in repeated experiments. DeSci is actively addressing this issue by offering incentives to scientists to replicate experiments or review the research of others. For example, ResearchHub, a platform backed by Coinbase founder Brian Armstrong, uses tokens to reward scientists for validating research results, sharing feedback, and participating in peer review efforts. This mechanism gives researchers an incentive to scrutinize findings, ensuring that published studies are more reliable. By encouraging collaboration and transparency, DeSci is helping to solve this long-standing problem in traditional science.

4) Open access and programmatic publishing

DeSci platform provides open access options, Eliminating the paywall barriers of traditional publishing allows scientists to freely share research results. For example, DeSci Publish allows researchers to upload and disseminate research content without paying high publishing fees, ensuring wider dissemination and impact of scientific discoveries. In addition, programmatic publishing accelerates the research-to-publication process by automating tasks such as manuscript submission, formatting, peer review coordination, metadata creation, revision tracking, and dissemination, reducing the burden of manual submission and allowing researchers to focus on Scientific research itself, not cumbersome administrative matters. Practical Example The Etica Protocol is a decentralized science (DeSci) initiative revolutionizing medical research by removing intellectual property (IP) restrictions and promoting open source collaboration. Launched in April 2022, Etica runs on blockchain technology, allowing researchers to freely share research results and receive financial rewards throughout the research process. By bypassing the traditional patent system and restrictive licensing agreements, Etica creates a fair and efficient framework that accelerates innovation while ensuring that treatments are affordable and promotingand equitable access to medical advances.

Core features

Decentralized proposals: Researchers submit proposals related to specific diseases , and evaluated through community voting on the blockchain.

Staking and voting: Token holders pledge Etica Token (ETI) to participate in voting. Correct votes can be rewarded, while incorrect votes will face penalties to ensure accountability. mechanism.

Dynamic approval threshold: The approval threshold of proposals is dynamically adjusted according to the voting mode to balance fairness and rigor.

Privacy and Transparency: A two-step voting system ensures privacy during the voting process and provides transparency once the results are known.

Etica Protocol's research areas

Etica Protocol advances open source across multiple critical health challenges Medical research focusing on global diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. At the same time, collaborations on the platform are advancing innovative solutions for Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and actively combating global problems such as malaria and silicosis (occupational lung disease). In addition, Etica supports research into cystic fibrosis (Mucoviscidosis) and addiction, as well as longevity research (Longevity Research) aimed at improving lifespan and fundamental research (Fundamental Research) exploring basic scientific questions. These research areas demonstrate Etica’s real-world impact and encourage active participation to advance accessible and equitable healthcare solutions.

5) IP-NFTs: Empower researchers and protect ownership

Decentralization DeSci is revolutionizing the funding, management, and ownership of innovation by introducing a transparent and efficient framework, just as blockchain has upended the financial system. DeSci solves the "Valley of Death" problem in the field of scientific research by utilizing intellectual property non-fungible tokens (IP-NFTs) and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) - at this stage, due to lack of financial support, many potential The project died between basic research and commercialization. With DAOs, researchers have direct access to globalFunding networks bypass traditional barriers and ensure early-stage projects receive the necessary resources to scale. This decentralized approach not only accelerates innovation, it also democratizes access to funding, fosters global collaboration, and advances science. IP-NFTs are the core technology of this revolution, with a framework based on the Ethereum blockchain that integrates legal contracts, smart contracts and encrypted private data stored on decentralized platforms such as Arweave and Filecoin. By tokenizing research projects, IP-NFTs achieve efficient funding, transparent governance and collective ownership, which not only empowers researchers but also ensures fair access to scientific results. Here are relevant examples to illustrate this point.

Main advantages of IP-NFTs:

Monetization: researchers can sell IP directly -NFTs, to raise funds for research and potentially earn significant financial returns.

Open access and control: IP-NFTs can be combined with an open access model to ensure that research results are open to the public while retaining ownership.

Real-life examples

Molecule is the leading platform using IP-NFTs to revolutionize scientific research funding. By tokenizing intellectual property, Molecule enables researchers to raise funds directly from a global community of investors, patients and enthusiasts.

More than $30 million has been raised through the Molecule ecosystem to support decentralized scientific research.

Twenty-nine research projects were funded, covering niche areas such as rare diseases and quantum biology.

15,700+ community members including scientists, investors, and supporters.

$1.95 million to directly fund cutting-edge research projects that will make significant progress in underfunded areas.

VitaDAO demonstrates the transformative potential of IP-NFTs in scientific research, decentralizing funding and governance through blockchain technology. VitaDAO has deployed more than $4.2 million, funded 24 research projects, and evaluated more than 200program, promoting collaboration and transparency in advancing breakthrough longevity science. Its holdings of $6 million in liquidity demonstrate how decentralized mechanisms can effectively support innovative research and advance progress in key scientific areas.

6) Examples of projects funded by IP-NFTs

Discovering new autophagy activation Agents

Lab: Korolchuk Lab, Newcastle University

Research focus: Finding compounds to restore aging The autophagy function in cells solves the cell recycling mechanism related to aging and disease.

Funding amount: US$285,000

Longevity biotechnology based on naked mole rats

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Lab: Gorbunova Lab

Research focus: development of therapies based on high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, Take advantage of its cancer-fighting and life-extending properties.

Funding amount: US$300,000

Longevity molecules

Lab: Scheibye-Knudsen Lab

Research focus: Analyzing 1.04 billion prescription records through machine learning to find ways to extend human Drugs for longevity.

Funding Amount: $537,000

ApoptoSENS: CAR-A to eliminate senescent cells NK cells

Research focus: developing CAR-NK cells to eliminate senescent cells and treat age-related diseases.

Funding amount: $253,000

Innovative mitochondria for Alzheimer's disease Autophagy activator

Lab: Fang Lab

Research focus: Using AI to identify candidate drugs that restore mitophagy, which may Treats Alzheimer's disease and other age-related diseases.

Funding amount: $300,000

Reversing periodontal disease through the science of aging

Lab: An Lab

Research focus: Testing compounds that target inflammation to treat age-related periodontitis and improve human healthspan.

Funding amount: US$330,000

ARTAN Bio: Mutations specific for aging and longevity Codon suppression

Company: ARTAN Bio

Research focus: developing treatments for age-related diseases and interventions for nonsense mutations in cancer.

Funding amount: US$91,300

7) Decentralization in the biomedical field Application

Decentralized Science (DeSci) offers a transformative solution by placing patients and donors at the center of the research process. Using blockchain technology, DeSci ensures that donors have control over their biological samples, allowing them to understand how the samples are used and even receive financial rewards when the samples are commercialized. This approach enhances trust and encourages participation. At the same time, decentralized systems provide greater security for sensitive data, ensuring that data is stored securely and can only be accessed with appropriate 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 building a centerThe platform connects medical institutions and empowers patients, revolutionizing biomedical research. The project has raised $7 million in funding, including a $5 million seed round led by a16z crypto and Cercano, to build a transparent and efficient system for managing biological samples and medical data. At the heart of AminoChain is 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 common format while ensuring it is securely stored on institutional servers. By unifying data across the network, AminoChain makes it possible to develop patient-centric applications and facilitate collaboration among healthcare institutions. One of its key applications is Specimen Center, a peer-to-peer marketplace platform for biological samples. The platform allows researchers to search for and request samples from biobanks while maintaining compliance and tracking sample origin. Tasks that would take weeks with traditional processes are streamlined into efficient workflows, accelerating research results. What’s special is that donors can track the usage of their samples, gain insights generated by their contributions, and receive financial rewards when their samples are commercialized, further enhancing trust and engagement. AminoChain is unique in embedding bioethics deeply into 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: the revolution in scientific research funding

Decentralized science (DeSci) is rapidly changing the way scientific research is funded and carried out, unlocking the New possibilities for innovation and collaboration. Since 2023, more than 7 dedicated decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) have been established, and these DAOs have collectively evaluated more than 2,000 projects and allocated more than $70 million through on-chain channels. These DAOs are involved in areas as diverse as psychedelic research, hair loss treatments, cryogenics, neuroscience, and cutting-edge quantum biology research. While only 0.5% of projects are currently funded, the impact is already significant. More than 3,000 ETH were invested to promote the development of 5 to 6 new drugs. The first actual product, a high-dose spermidine supplement, was brought to market by VitaDAO and approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration, demonstrating that the results of this revolutionary funding model are tangible.

6. DeSci’s future project outlook

DeSci’s potential is further demonstrated in the exciting upcoming projects: 1) Curetopia

Goal: Solve more than 10,000 rare genetic diseases by uniting patient groups and diverse populations.

Method: Directly engage patients research, placing them at the core of research and revolutionizing research methods for rare disease treatments

2) Quantum Biology DAO

Goal: Accelerate quantum biology research and promote community building, open governance and innovative experiments.

Mission: Understand and manipulate biological mechanisms at the quantum level , opening a new door for scientific breakthroughs

7. Big players help DeSci

The importance of decentralized science (DeSci) has attracted major players in the blockchain field. BN Labs’ focus on BIO Protocol Made a massive investment in BIO Protocol, a pioneering platform that enables a global community of scientists, patients and investors to co-fund and co-own groundbreaking biomedical research focused on critical issues such as rare diseases, longevity research and mental health. field, and incubate multiple BioDAOs to accelerate patient-driven innovation. Industry leaders such as Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and BN CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) also expressed support and personally attended a DeSci event in Bangkok. Their participation highlights DeSci DeSci has the potential to revolutionize research funding and research models globally, with projects like PumpDotScience on the Solana platform enabling users to push the boundaries of decentralized science. Watch real-time scientific research experiments and tokenize longevity compounds. This innovative model has brought rapid success, and its token performed outstandingly after DevCon: the market value of $RIF reached 1.06. billion, while $URO soared to $39 million. The decentralized science market is growing rapidly, with transaction volume exceeding $25 million and a total market value of $1.2 billion, such as ResearchHub’s RSC and VITA supported by Coinbase founder Brian Armstrong. DeSci Tokens such as and HAIR also performed strongly. These data reflect investors' strong interest in DeSci's potential.and confidence, this field is redefining the scientific development model.

8. New era of science: DeSci revolution

Decentralized science (DeSci) is setting off a revolution that will fundamentally change the way science is funded, implemented and shared. . Backed by industry giants like BN and driven by pioneers like Vitalik Buterin, DeSci is not just a technological innovation, but a movement dedicated to democratizing science and solving humanity's grand challenges. Projects like BIO Protocol, Curetopia, and Quantum Biology DAO show the potential for real breakthroughs, while cross-chain collaboration is allowing DeSci’s influence to extend beyond Ethereum to platforms like Solana. This isn’t just blockchain speculation, it’s about curing disease, accelerating progress, and making innovation reach everyone. DeSci represents a future of science that is open, collaborative, and inclusive. This is not a passing fad, but a profound change in the way we move towards progress. As this movement accelerates, it feels like we are witnessing the dawn of a new era that will be truly transformative for humanity.