Decentralized science (DeSci) is disrupting how research is funded, reviewed, stored, shared, and even collaborated on globally. Leveraging blockchain and innovative platforms allows DeSci to challenge traditional models and create a more accessible and efficient ecosystem for scientific publication.
Here are five ways DeSci is changing approaches to scientific research and publication. These developments are revolutionizing how science moves forward, which is relevant not only for researchers but also for investors and everyday people who can benefit from the science.
1. Democratizing research funding
DeSci can make research funding more accessible and inclusive. While traditional funding sources often limit opportunities to established institutions and well-known researchers, DeSci7s use of blockchain seeks to democratize access to research funding. This approach opens doors for a huge range of research initiatives, from niche projects to interdisciplinary studies – which might otherwise struggle to get conventional grants.
Molecule, for example, is a DeSci platform facilitating funding for over 300 research projects across different scientific disciplines. It’s an example of how DeSci can support farther-reaching scientific inquiry and speed up discoveries.
Community-driven funding through DAOs
Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) give communities the power to collectively decide on funding for scientific projects. The DAO model aims to democratically distribute resources so researchers can receive support based on community consensus rather than traditional gatekeepers.
VitaDAO, a prominent example, focuses on longevity research and has grown to over 9,000 members. This DAO’s governance model allows members to propose, discuss, and vote on research projects, so funding decisions reflect the community’s collective interests and expertise. This approach has led to the support of innovative projects that traditional funding mechanisms may have overlooked.
Another example is DeSci Labs, which is developing open-source tools for decentralized research. Its platform lets researchers create DAOs for specific projects or fields, further democratizing the funding process and enabling niche communities to support research they deem valuable.
Tokenization of research and publishing
Research tokenization lets scientists issue digital tokens representing their work or intellectual property. This method provides fair compensation, attracts investment, and fosters innovation and collaboration in the research community.
AxonDAO uses its native AXGT token to fund and govern neuroscience research projects. Its model lets token holders submit, discuss, and vote on research proposals, creating a community-driven approach to funding neuroscience studies. The platform’s treasury, funded by AXGT token sales, supports promising research projects in areas like brain-computer interfaces, neurodegeneration, and neural network modeling.
ResearchHub takes this concept further with its ResearchCoin ($RSC). Users can earn tokens for activities such as posting research, doing peer review, and contributing to discussions. This method creates a direct link between contribution and reward, potentially accelerating the pace of scientific discourse and collaboration.
Case study: VitaDAO’s funding for aging research
VitaDAO raised $4.1 million in a funding round led by Pfizer Ventures and other prominent investors, highlighting traditional biotech players’ growing interest in decentralized research models.
The funding lets VitaDAO support innovative projects. Its project page transparently shows the research it’s funding and how much it’s allocating to the project. In “The Longevity Molecule,” over $500K has been allocated to the Scheibye-Knudsen Lab to study how machine learning-driven data analysis can pursue therapeutics that will slow the aging process.
VitaDAO also funds equity deals and various initiatives. VitaDAO shows how DeSci can bridge the gap between academic research and commercial development by turning research projects into biotech intellectual property and companies. The model funds initial research and provides a pathway for bringing scientific discoveries to market, potentially speeding up the translation of research into real-world applications.
2. Opening up the peer review process
DeSci platforms introduce more transparent, efficient, and rewarding systems into the peer review process. This traditionally voluntary process is now facing rising demand for a change in the slow and sometimes ineffective way it plays out.
Among peer review’s major issues are detecting false datasets, time constraints, and research misconduct in peer review. DeSci can offer innovative solutions with platforms that make rapid, transparent research evaluation more likely, while creating mechanisms to recognize and reward reviewer contributions.
Decentralized peer review platforms
SCINET uses blockchain to record all peer review activities on an immutable ledger, providing a verifiable and transparent record of each review’s history. This can reduce review times and improve feedback quality as it provides clear, verifiable records of reviewer contributions.
Token incentives for reviewers
One of the major innovations in decentralized platforms is using token-based incentives to reward reviewers. Platforms like ResearchHub use ResearchCoin ($RSC) to encourage high-quality contributions. These incentives address the traditional system’s lack of rewards, where reviewers often work without compensation.
Preprints and transparent community-based review
Preprint servers like arXiv have revolutionized how research is shared by enabling rapid dissemination without formal peer review. However, this speed can sometimes compromise quality. Decentralized platforms aim to bridge this gap by combining preprints with community-based reviews. For example, DeSci Labs is developing blockchain tools that record every step of the research process, ensuring both transparency and reproducibility while maintaining rapid sharing.
3. Blockchain-based data storage solutions
Blockchain data storage offers promising solutions to address challenges in scientific research. It ensures the integrity and immutability of research data, enhancing transparency and reproducibility.
Immutable records of research methodologies
Preserving research methods is crucial for conducting reliable studies. Poor study designs significantly hinder research reproducibility, as part of the so-called reproducibility crises. Blockchain technology addresses this issue by creating permanent, unalterable records of research methodologies. This approach enhances transparency and facilitates easier verification of studies.
Decentralized storage for scientific data
Decentralized storage systems built on blockchain technology offer several advantages for scientific research:
- Data integrity: Blockchain ensures that once data is recorded, it can’t be altered or tampered with, maintaining research findings’ authenticity.
- Stronger security: The distributed nature of blockchain storage reduces the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive research information.
- Improved accessibility: Decentralized storage lets researchers maintain control over their data while enabling transparent and verifiable access for peer review and collaborative studies.
- Cost-effectiveness: Blockchain-based storage solutions are often more affordable than traditional centralized options, which can reduce research costs.
Case study: University of Utah blockchain initiative
The University of Utah’s Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute (SCI) is pioneering the use of blockchain in academia through its participation in the National Science Data Fabric (NSDF) and National Data Platform (NDP) initiatives. The project aims to improve global and equitable access to large scientific datasets, including multiple petabytes of NASA climate data. It’s leveraging blockchain technology to enable interactive processing and exploration of massive datasets without extensive local resources, which overcomes traditional barriers to data access.
This can broaden the scope of scientific inquiry and foster a more inclusive academic environment, showcasing the transformative potential of blockchain in democratizing access to information and promoting collaborative research.
4. Speeding up research dissemination
How and when research is shared with the public is changing, especially in the wake of the global pandemic and the urgent need to make new findings public.
Blockchain can speed up publication and open access models can make the findings easier to access. This shift transforms the dissemination and consumption of scientific knowledge.
Rapid publication through blockchain
Blockchain is speeding up the publishing process by reducing wait times and bureaucracy. Research suggests that blockchain technology can improve the scientific publishing process by making it faster, more efficient, and more transparent.
The DeSci Labs platform uses smart contracts to automate peer review assignments and track manuscript progress, cutting down administrative delays.
Open-access models and DeSci coins
DeSci coins are helping create new open access models, eliminating traditional fees and making research freely accessible. A report by the Open Research Europe initiative found that DeSci-powered platforms have increased the number of open access publications by 78% in the past year.
DeSci coins like OriginTrail (TRAC) incentivize researchers to share their data openly. This model not only promotes transparency but also ensures fair compensation for contributors. As a result, the scientific community is witnessing a surge in freely available, high-quality research data.
Case study: Molecule for biopharma intellectual property
The Molecule platform lets researchers secure project funding and quickly publish their findings. For example, Molecule allocates BIO tokens to support the pump.science community, backing its mission to advance community-driven research on the Solana blockchain. Pump.science is an independent crypto-powered research protocol where anyone can launch and fund research experiments, particularly in longevity medicine. The BIO token, as the governance token for the Bio protocol, grants holders access to diverse BioDAOs and scientific initiatives. The aim is to:
- Reward early community members of pump.science
- Create deeper connections within the broader BioDAO ecosystem
- Support community growth initiatives on the pump.science platform
5. Motivating global scientific collaboration
DeSci is transforming international scientific cooperation. The movement supports events that unite researchers worldwide, fostering a new era of global scientific collaboration.
Cross-border research initiatives
DeSci platforms are facilitating cross-border research at an unprecedented scale. DeSci initiatives aim to create a public infrastructure for collaboration, funding, and publication. Blockchain allows these platforms enable open and efficient scientific collaboration across geographical and institutional boundaries.
Tokenized incentives for international cooperation
Tokenized incentives are encouraging scientists to work together globally. These digital tokens reward data sharing and collaboration, supporting a more open and transparent research process. This approach aligns with the principles of Open Science 2.0, where research is open from start to finish.
The potential for growth in international collaboration is significant. Currently, only 20% of scientific papers come from international teams, indicating substantial room for expansion in global research efforts.
Case Study: CerebrumDAO
CerebrumDAO shows the potential of decentralized science in fostering global collaboration. This innovative platform established a $1.5 million fund dedicated to advancing brain health research. CerebrumDAO is a network organization anchored by smart contracts on a distributed ledger.
The platform’s NEURON token serves as a governance and curation mechanism, allowing holders to actively participate in shaping research initiatives. This approach democratizes decision-making in scientific research, enabling a global community to collectively address neurodegeneration and advance neuroscience solutions.
CerebrumDAO’s model demonstrates how DeSci can accelerate project funding for translational research, potentially leading to products and interventions that can make a difference in brain health in the coming years.
