One of blockchain’s biggest offerings is the concept of decentralization, which is the process of distributing authority, decision-making, and other resources from one central entity to multiple entities. This concept has revolutionized several industries, from finance (DeFi), cryptocurrency trading (through DEXs) and even scientific research (known as decentralized science or DeSci).

DeSci in particular uses blockchain technology and decentralized systems to fund, conduct and share scientific research. One of such projects is VitaDAO, a decentralized community of researchers and avid science enthusiasts coming together to promote longevity research.

What is VitaDAO?

Source: vitadao

VitaDAO is a Decentralized Science (DeSci) community gathered together to advance early-stage longevity research to improve life expectancy. It facilitates real-world scientific studies by using some innovative frameworks developed by Molecule, specifically through IP-NFTs and IPTs.

IP-NFTs, or Intellectual Property Non-Fungible Tokens, convert intellectual property into regular tokens on the blockchain. Meanwhile, Intellectual Property Tokens, or IPTs, are fungible tokens representing ownership of the research linked to these IP-NFTs. This structure gives community members a say in funding and development of research.

The governance of VitaDAO falls on VITA token holders, which include a diverse group of stakeholders such as academic scientists, longevity researchers, and major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer. Notably, the project also attracts influential figures from the crypto space, including former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan. Every member of the DAO participates in decision-making by voting on proposals and actively supporting the development and commercialization of various VitaDAO sub-projects.

History of VitaDAO

VitaDAO is a fully decentralized community founded in 2021. As such, the project has no CEO, board of directors, or any hierarchy of employees. Nonetheless, since its launch, VitaDAO has grown to over 10,000 members strong, and it has funded over 24 research projects with over $4.2 million.

The project has also formed strong partnerships with companies like Pfizer, Molecule, Shine Capital, Aura, and PrimeDAO.

How Does VitaDAO Work?

VitaDAO uses a tokenization approach introduced by Molecule to create a flexible platform for funding and managing longevity research. This approach involves converting intellectual property (IP) and research data into IP-NFTs— tokens incorporating full legal rights and data ownership.

The tokenization process starts with identifying the specific asset (IP) to be tokenized, ranging from licenses, patents, or data assets. The IP is then converted into digital format using metadata to describe the asset and includes legal agreements that bind the holder to the terms of ownership and usage of the IP. Afterwards, an NFT will be created on the blockchain to represent the asset, acting as a digital certificate of ownership.

These NFTs can be traded amongst DAOs and their communities, which can further tokenize them into IPTs, enabling governance rights for funding subsequent stages of research and development. This model promotes more decentralized collaboration while giving researchers full ownership of their discoveries.

Whenever an IP-NFT is created or transferred, all related agreements, including IP licenses are cryptographically signed, showing a transparent record of ownership. This keeps sensitive research data safe and only accessible by the NFT holder.

Aside from managing intellectual property, VitaDAO also owns various data generated from research projects, such as lab reports, experimental results, or quarterly updates. These data assets come in raw data, images, or PDFs and can also be sold on marketplaces like Ocean Marketplace.

Some information in the data assets may be hidden or better confidentiality. As such, members wishing to access these assets completely must submit KYC documentation and sign some confidentiality agreements. This ensures the security and integrity of the data assets for all members.

VitaDAO operates on the Ethereum blockchain using smart contracts to keep transactions running smoothly. Its structure features governance and staking mechanisms inspired by MolochDAO, a Gnosis Auction for liquidity, the VITA token for governance, and a Gnosis Safe multi-signature wallet for executing proposals. Proposals are key in decision-making, as community input helps shape projects before token-based votes determine their implementation.

To improve the efficiency of decision-making, VitaDAO uses both formal and informal governance mechanisms. Smaller decisions, like project due diligence, are handled through soft governance, where decisions are made through community discussions. Meanwhile, the more serious issues like funding and token allocation require formal votes.

Proposals undergo a multi-phase process starting with idea discussions on Discord, followed by drafting and refining the proposal on Discourse, and ending with a final vote on the VitaDAO platform.

Main Features of VitaDAO

Standout features of VitaDAO include:

IP-NFTs

IP-NFTs are a new legal framework that grants complete rights and access to scientific research data, created as part of Molecule’s decentralized science (DeSci) initiative. These digital tokens allow researchers to secure funding by selling the potential IP tied to their projects to investors interested in owning the resulting intellectual property. Ownership of an IP-NFT grants exclusive access to the research data, ensuring that investors and stakeholders retain control over its outcome.

Additionally, IP-NFTs also offer researchers additional avenues for generating funds. They can embed programmable funding mechanisms directly into the NFTs, triggering automatic royalties every time the token is resold. This ensures that the original researchers can benefit financially from subsequent transactions, allowing them to enjoy a sustainable income stream tied to their work.

IP-NFTs can also be used to mint fungible tokens which can be sold to raise funds as well. These tokens are known as IP tokens, or IPTs. The creator of the IPT can specify the details of the fungible token, including the number of tokens to be minted. These tokens can then be used to raise more funds for the project while granting governance rights to holders around the research and its results, similar to ICOs and IDOs.

IPTs

When an IP-NFT owner creates a token for the project, they also create a decentralized IP government for the specific research project. The decentralized IP government (or IP DAO) includes every holder of the IPT, either from the initial funding exercise, from purchases on exchanges, or acquisitions through P2P transfers. After the first mint and the initial funding exercise using the IPTs, the control of the project and token moves to the IP DAO. As such, the community will approve any further minting and management via IP DAO votes.

IPT holders significantly influence the project, particularly in areas like intellectual property licensing. The IP DAO collectively decides which parties receive licenses, under what conditions, and how any revenues from licensing are used. This aligns with the IP DAO’s goal of empowering the public to maintain control over the research outcomes and related products, like drugs or medical innovations, and ensures they remain accessible and ethically managed. It also ensures that the proceeds and governance rights remain within the community.

While owning IPTs doesn’t necessarily equate to financial payouts, holders can vote on how profits—whether from licensing, sales, or other project-related activities—are allocated and managed. Additionally, the DAO can mint additional IPTs to expand its scope or address other needs.

Improves Collaboration and Liquidity

VitaDAO enables researchers to document their project on an immutable layer through NFTs. This gives researchers publicly verifiable proof of ownership, granting them more flexibility in managing their research, including collaborations and distribution of intellectual property. Access to research data depends on NFT ownership, and its history and ownership record is stored on-chain.

VitaDAO also encourages collaboration, as researchers can create bounties to enable other laboratories worldwide to contribute data to their project in exchange for a share of the IP developed by the collective.

VitaLabs

Source: vitadao

VitaLabs is a research organization that seeks to address the shortcomings of traditional academic methods in longevity research. It prioritizes ambitious and high-risk projects that most conventional laboratories often overlook. The organization operates on a unique schedule of four-month “seasons,” during which focused groups of geroscientists and specialists investigate specific aspects of longevity. This approach accelerates scientific progress by encouraging innovative ideas, hands-on experimentation, and active community participation.

Vita Labs also features a Fellowship Program to attract top talent globally, with a key focus on creative and independent thinkers passionate about longevity research. The fellows will enjoy full autonomy, meaning they are free to come up with their own ideas and explore new hypotheses. They will also retain an ownership stake of any intellectual property they generate. Additionally, they can work alongside VitaDAO’s network scientists, entrepreneurs and pharmaceutical executives, while enjoying monthly stipends from VitaDAO. To apply, simply fill this form.

All projects on VitaLabs share the same roadmap. It begins with the ideation stage, where researchers applying to be VitaLabs Fellows present their ideas to the community. This phase encourages collaboration and open dialogue, and allows candidates to refine their proposals through community feedback. Next, the team formation stage encourages applicants to go ahead and form diverse teams. These teams will work together on a shared idea, and they have the full support and guidance of VitaLabs’ core team.

After the teams are formed, they move onto the projects proposal stage, where they will officially present their detailed plans in the Quadratic Funding Round. The proposals must include a clear budget, team composition, research roadmap, a problem statement, and potential commercialization opportunities.

After securing funding, projects will conduct initial experiments validating their ideas using low-cost but high-impact studies. The more promising projects can then advance to the in-depth research stage, where they will conduct even more experiments to confirm their findings. Successful projects will then reach the final stage (Spin-out creation). This stage converts mature projects into full biotech ventures, unlocking bigger fundraising opportunities, including IPT launches and crowdfunding.

VitaDAO Shop

Source: vitadao

The VitaDAO Shop offers a curated range of products to promote the organization’s mission of advancing longevity research and community engagement. Shoppers can choose from a variety of items, including branded apparel and merchandise, allowing them to showcase their dedication to this important cause. By purchasing exclusive VitaDAO-themed products, customers not only acquire unique items, but also play a vital role in funding innovative research projects on aging. This initiative not only helps promote scientific advancements but also strengthens the sense of community among supporters of VitaDAO.

Projects funded by VitaDAO

Popular projects that the VitaDAO community has funded include:

Korolchuk Lab

Korolchuk Labs was initiated on 14th December 2021 as an autophagy-dedicated project. Autophagy is a critical cellular recycling process that helps fight against aging and related diseases. Korolchuk Labs focuses on advancing autophagy-related research in partnership with VitaDAO’s IP-NFT funding model.

Dr Viktor Korolchuk, lead the project, and other members of its core team include Johannes Reynisson, who is in charge of drug discovery, and Konstantin Volcho, who oversees organic and medicinal chemistry.

Since conception, the lab has made significant progress by screening various chemical analogs in autophagy assays, some of which have shown promise by outperforming existing compounds. It is currently in its Pre-Clinical studies phase, designed to identify lead compounds that will be useful components in its drug discovery program. Its next phase, Pre-Clinical Studies 2, will synthesize and test these compounds. Afterward, Pre-Clinical Studies 3 will evaluate different properties in the lead compounds, ranging from absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity.

MatrixBio

Source: matrixs

Matrix Bio was initiated on March 31, 2023, by VitaDAO and Gorbunova Lab. The core team comprises the research lead Vera Gorbunova, alongside other board members, including Eleanor Davies, the project manager, and Anthony Schwartz, the project lead. It is also a drug discovery project, and its goal is to fight cancer by using the unique anti-cancer and pro-longevity properties of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW-HA), a substance usually found in longer-living species like the naked mole rat.

The project was fully backed by the VitaDAO community, earning up to $300,000 in funding. Its hypothesis is that the unique biological traits of long-lived species are important to understanding and combating aging. It is currently in its early stage of preclinical discovery, operating a dual-phased approach to its drug development plan. The first phase will identify and optimize new drug candidates using HTS and biochemistry. The next phase will then test how well an active inhibitor works in mouse models of cancer.

The Longevity Molecule - Scheibye-Knudsen Lab

Source: scheibye-knudsen

The Scheibye-Knudsen Lab was initiated by research lead Morten Scheibye-Knudsen on June 23, 2021. It is a project dedicated to understanding the impact of drugs on the human lifespan. Scheibye-Knudsen Lab got an 88% approval rating from the VitaDAO community, and was able to raise $537,000 in funding.

The project studied over 1.4 billion prescriptions, finding some drugs associated with longer life and health span in longer-living populations. As such, they plan to analyze these drugs to see if they can reduce aging. If successful, the project will repurpose these drugs to try and extend the human lifespan, which a much cheaper and faster process than developing new drugs from scratch.

What is $VITA Token?

VITA is the native ERC-20 utility token of the VitaDAO ecosystem. Its primary function is governance, as only VITA holders can vote and share their opinions on research projects and funding. Token holders participate in decision-making processes, including funding proposals, research priorities, and strategic directions for longevity research projects. VITA also facilitates collaboration by enabling members to pool resources and drive innovation in the field of aging science.

VITA grants its holders the right to decide which IP receives funds, how they will receive the funds, participate in VitaDAO’s treasury management, and participate in VitaDAO governance.

Holders can also stake their tokens to show support for long-term projects. Staking periods range from three, six and 12 months, or until a project milestone is reached. The project will set these milestones, but while they are measurable, their outcomes are uncertain due to the nature of research. As such, holders must remember they are taking more risk by foregoing their liquidity.

When a project reaches a certain milestone, staked tokens will be unlocked. VitaDAO pays regular signaling rewards to stakers as a reward for staking their tokens. This approach also sends signals to the market, representing the confidence of community members in the project(s).

VITA Tokenomics

Source: gov.vitadao

VITA has a max supply of 64,298,880 tokens, with a current circulating supply of 25,804,278 tokens, 27,219,552 tokens, and a market cap of over $114 million. The token was distributed as follows:

• 10% was allocated to the community genesis contributors
• 10% was reserved for service providers
• 10% was allotted to working groups
• 70% was kept in the VitaDAO treasury.

News on VITA

In October 2024, VitaLabs introduced a Fellowship Program to attract exceptional talents to longevity research. This program allows fellows to pursue creative projects with scientific freedom while retaining ownership of the intellectual property they develop. Participants will benefit from access to a world-class network of professionals and dedicated funding for their research initiatives, ultimately driving innovation and collaboration in aging research.

Is VITA a Good Investment?

VitaDAO is determined to extend human life through research. As admirable as this initiative is, however, one must remember how volatile the crypto market is. As such, it is important to make proper research on any project before investing in it.