The DeSci Podcast

What if the future of science and biotech was built on legal frameworks that empower communities, not corporations?In Episode 44 of the Molecule Podcast, we sit down with Jesse Hudson — lawyer, anthropologist, and Chief Legal Architect at Molecule. Jesse is a pioneer in building legal infrastructure for decentralized science (DeSci), DAOs, and intellectual property (IP) tokenization.This episode dives deep into:- The failure of the current global IP system- IP as cultural infrastructure- IP tokenization and why it matters for DAOs- Licensing, enforcement, and the problem of patent trolls- How indigenous IP and cultural property are being reclaimed through blockchain- New models for governance, dispute resolution, and community-owned IPJesse’s unique experience working with Amazonian tribes, biotech DAOs, and legal DAOs brings one of the most profound and ethical perspectives to the DeSci conversation.Timestamps:0:00 – Intro: Why IP matters2:13 – Meet Jesse Hudson: Legal architect & anthropologist5:05 – From anthropology to biotech DAOs7:44 – IP in the digital age: Why it’s grown 70x11:02 – How IP impacts individuals: NIL rights & personal brands15:10 – IP basics: Trademark, copyright, patents20:05 – Patent trolls & the licensing problem27:01 – Is the IP system serving the public?30:10 – Tesla & IP strategy: When to share vs protect33:42 – DAOs as IP holders: SideDAO & decentralized licensing36:10 – IP tokens & collective governance38:18 – Indigenous cultural IP: Working with the Shipibo tribe44:20 – NFT royalties & licensing for indigenous art48:52 – IP ethics: Alternative models beyond Western frameworks53:22 – DAO-based dispute resolution & legal evolution59:50 – Closing thoughts: Cultural values driving IP systems🔗 Learn more at https://molecule.xyz

The psychedelic industry is booming, but a major battle is unfolding: Who will control the future of these powerful medicines? Will open science prevail, or will corporations dominate through patents? In this episode, we sit down with Graham Pechenik, a leading expert in psychedelic patent law, to unravel the complexities of intellectual property in the space.Graham Pechenik is the founder of Calyx Law, a law firm specializing in psychedelic and cannabis patents. With a background in neuroscience and law, he provides deep insights into the legal landscape shaping the future of psychedelic medicine.Topics Discussed:• The role of patents in psychedelic research• Controversies around corporate control and monopolization• How open-source models could challenge big pharma• What legal battles mean for researchers, startups, and patients• The future of psychedelic accessibilityTune in to get expert insights from one of the leading voices in psychedelic IP law.______If you prefer listening to podcasts on audio apps, feel free to search for "The DeSci Podcast" on Spotify, Google Podcasts & Apple Podcasts. You'll also find all links to the podcast apps below.If you want to join us on the show as a speaker or have guest ideas, please shoot us an mail at podcast@molecule.toSpecial thanks to: Ella McCarthy-Page - https://x.com/EMcCarthyPageGraham Pechenik - https://x.com/calyxlaw______Let's connect: Website: https://bit.ly/3d6nh2CTwitter: https://twitter.com/Molecule_daoDiscord: https://discord.gg/ZHGpJQzeTqMolecule - The future of medicine belongs to everyone

Biotech is at a crossroads—AI, intellectual property, and startups are reshaping the future. But who really controls the breakthroughs? In this episode, Sara Holland, an IP advisor, explores how patents impact biotech, the challenges startups face against big pharma, and whether AI will change everything.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:- The hidden barriers to biotech innovation- How AI is transforming drug discovery and synthetic biology- The role of patents in protecting—or stifling—progress- Why decentralized science (DeSci) could be the key to the future______Special Thanks To:Ella McCarthy-Page : https://x.com/EMcCarthyPageSara HollandChris BrynesMark Nichols______Let's connect: Website: https://bit.ly/3d6nh2CTwitter: https://twitter.com/Molecule_daoDiscord: https://discord.com/invite/moleculedao______Molecule - The future of medicine belongs to everyone

Welcome to another episode of the DeSci Podcast. Today, we are discussing a critical issue that affects over 30 million people in the United States—Rare Diseases. Despite being more prevalent than cancer and HIV combined, rare diseases remain underfunded, overlooked by Big Pharma, and trapped in a broken system.Our Guest: This episode features Ethan Perlstein, founder of CureTopia, an initiative using Decentralized Science (DeSci) and blockchain to revolutionize rare disease research. Why does the current system fail millions of patients, and how can decentralized models change that?What You’ll Learn in This Episode:-The reality of rare diseases and why the term "rare" is misleading-How patients and parents are taking control of scientific research-Why Big Pharma does not prioritize rare diseases and the funding challenges involved-How DeSci and blockchain can disrupt traditional biotech and accelerate drug development-The vision behind CureTopia and how it is reshaping research for rare disease treatmentsResources Mentioned:CureTopia: https://curetopia.xyzDeSci Podcast: https://www.molecule.xyzFeel free to navigate through any of the topics discussed in the podcast using the timestamps below.___⭐ Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction: The Rare Disease Crisis2:14 - Why Rare Diseases Are More Common Than People Think5:13 - Challenges in Rare Disease Advocacy9:25 - How Parents Become Scientific Experts in Their Child’s Disease13:50 - Why Big Pharma Ignores Rare Diseases17:16 - The Role of Decentralized Science (DeSci) in Drug Development22:41 - The Funding Challenges in Rare Disease Research27:34 - How Blockchain and Smart Contracts Can Help Rare Disease Research33:04 - The Power of Community in Rare Disease Advocacy38:26 - What Is CureTopia and How Does It Work?43:57 - The Future of Rare Disease Research and Biotech Innovation49:14 - Ethan Perlstein’s Vision for CureTopia54:10 - Closing Thoughts and Where to Learn More______If you prefer listening to podcasts on audio apps, feel free to search for "The DeSci Podcast" on Spotify, Google Podcasts & Apple Podcasts. You'll also find all links to the podcast apps below.If you want to join us on the show as a speaker or have guest ideas, please shoot us an mail at podcast@molecule.toSpecial thanks to:Jillian Casalini: https://x.com/JillianCasaliniEthan Perlstein: https://x.com/eperlste____Let's connect: Website: https://bit.ly/3d6nh2CX: https://twitter.com/Molecule_daoDiscord: https://discord.com/invite/moleculedaoMolecule - The future of medicine belongs to everyone!

Welcome to another episode of the DeSci Podcast! Today, we’re excited to host Joshua Bate, Founder of DeSciWorld. DeSciWorld is a community-driven initiative dedicated to facilitating the onboarding of individuals into the Decentralized Science (DeSci) space. It provides users with the tools to view, engage with, and understand everything happening in the world of decentralized science. In this episode, Joshua shares the vision behind DeSciWorld and its role as a global hub for the decentralized science community. We touch on Joshua's frank thoughts on the DeSci movement and how open discussion and unadultered knowledge transfer, alongside powerful incentives, are necessary to grow the space. We also discuss the “Proof of Knowledge protocol”, DeSciWorld's upcoming technical product where users can upload data and receive incentives whenever their contributions are utilized. Joshua addresses concerns about spam and low-quality dataset submissions, as well as potential technical approaches to ensure that the data used to train AI remains high-quality and reliable. DeSci World: https://desci.world/ SynapseDAO: https://synapse-dao.webflow.io/ Feel free to navigate through any of the topics discussed in the podcast using the timestamps below. ___ ⭐ Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:28 Overview of DeSci World 04:24 About “Proof of Knowledge” protocol 7:07 Ensuring high-quality datasets 14:04 Common misconceptions about DeSci 16:28 How incentives can drive DeSci adoption in Academia 20:10 Underappreciated aspects of Decentralized Science 22:10 Recommendations for getting started in DeSci 24:23 Competition vs. collaboration in the Web3 space 25:48 Scope of biotech 30:59 The future of of Decentralized Science 33:55 Outro ____ If you prefer listening to podcasts on audio apps, feel free to search for "The DeSci Podcast" on Spotify, Google Podcasts & Apple Podcasts. You'll also find all links to the podcast apps below. If you want to join us on the show as a speaker or have guest ideas, please shoot us an mail at podcast@molecule.to Special thanks to Lea: https://twitter.com/lealeata Joshua: https://twitter.com/jb87ua ____ Let's connect: Website: https://bit.ly/3d6nh2C X: https://twitter.com/Molecule_dao Discord: https://discord.com/invite/moleculedao

In this episode, we're diving deep into Molecule's Catalyst, an incentive-driven funding system for basic research. We begin by exploring the significant challenges posed by traditional funding models. We then touch on the "Valley of Death"—a critical juncture where many groundbreaking ideas fail often due to a lack of financial support. We discuss why early-stage research often struggles to gain traction and the barriers that prevent innovative ideas from reaching their full potential. Catalyst is at the forefront of addressing these issues with its decentralized approach. By realigning incentives and democratizing access to research funding, Catalyst fosters collaboration and makes science more inclusive and inviting. We also explore the role of IP tokens (IPTs) in decentralized science and how they democratize access to and control over scientific advancements. Additionally, we explain Catalyst’s bonding curve, which features dynamic pricing that rewards early backers with lower token prices and ensures fair pricing as more tokens are minted. This system not only incentivizes early support but also maintains a transparent and equitable funding environment. Tune in to discover the potential of decentralized funding in science and how you can get involved. Whether you're a researcher, an investor, or simply curious about the future of science, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss. ___ ⭐ Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 18:04 Challenges of traditional funding models 19:47 The valley of death; how it impacts research 24:30 Difficulty in getting involved in early-stage ideas 31:20 Using IP as a tool to realign incentives 35:01 Why IP is the ideal use case for bringing ideas on-chain 42:05 Decentralized funding in science 48:44 Introduction to Catalyst 55:26 How Catalyst works 59:36 Catalyst bonding curve explained 1:03:22 The negotiation period in Catalyst fundraising 1:09:22 Final remarks ____ If you prefer listening to podcasts on audio apps, feel free to search for "The DeSci Podcast" on Spotify, Google Podcasts & Apple Podcasts. You'll also find all links to the podcast apps below. If you want to join us on the show as a speaker or have guest ideas, please shoot us an mail at podcast@molecule.to Special thanks to Jillian: https://twitter.com/JillianCasalini Benji: https://twitter.com/benjileibo Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-noessler Learn more about Catalyst here: https://catalyst.molecule.xyz/ ____ Let's connect: Website: https://bit.ly/3d6nh2C X: https://twitter.com/Molecule_dao Discord: https://discord.com/invite/moleculedao

Alok Tayi, co-founder of Vibe Bio, discusses using AI to revolutionize drug development for rare diseases. Topics include personal motivation, complexities in drug development, advantages of DAOs, AI bias, training methods, limitations, and the importance of human intuition in the biopharma industry.

Welcome to another episode of the DeSci Podcast. Today, we're joined by Justin, Head of Growth at Hippocrat, a collaborative healthcare data protocol that aims to transform healthcare by empowering individuals to take control of their health data through blockchain and zero-knowledge proof technologies. In this episode, we discuss the importance of data sovereignty, exploring how Hippocrat's innovative approach ensures secure and private data management, enabling safe and transparent data sharing with healthcare providers. Justin emphasizes the need for decentralized data provision in healthcare, stressing that shifting from centralized to decentralized data management addresses the longstanding issue of individuals lack of control over their health data, which in turn advances personalized healthcare and research. We also explore Hippocrat's collaboration with Research HUB, aimed at identifying potential populations and regions where Hippocrat's telemedicine application, ‘Hippodoc’, could be effectively deployed to bridge healthcare accessibility gaps. Feel free to navigate through any of the topics discussed in the podcast using the timestamps below. ___ ⭐ Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:28 About Hippocrat 2:37 Why data sovereignty is important 7:55 The inspiration behind Hippocrat 11:48 Moving from Web 2 to Web 3 healthcare 13:39 How Hippocrat improves Data security 22:27 $HPO token utility and upcoming airdrop 26:58 Collaboration with Research HUB 38:25 How the Hippodoc app works 41:27 Hippocrat role in the DeSci space 45:30 Hippocrat in 10 years 49:18 How to get involved ____ If you prefer listening to podcasts on audio apps, feel free to search for "The DeSci Podcast" on Spotify, Google Podcasts & Apple Podcasts. You'll also find all links to the podcast apps below. If you want to join us on the show as a speaker or have guest ideas, please shoot us an mail at podcast@molecule.to Special thanks to Ella McCarthy-Page: https://twitter.com/EMcCarthyPage Justin Kim: (email: justin@hippocrat.io / telegram: just_in_1) Special Airdrop for DeSci Podcast listeners: https://gleam.io/cLiQO/100-hippocrat-x-desci-podcast-giveaway Learn more about Hippocrat here: https://link3.to/hippocrat ____ Let's connect: Website: https://bit.ly/3d6nh2C X: https://twitter.com/Molecule_dao Discord: https://discord.com/invite/moleculedao

Dr. Sönke Bartling discusses how blockchain can revolutionize research and innovation in DeSci. Topics include funding equality, peer review transformation, and incentivizing collaboration for scientific discoveries.

In this episode, we discuss the problem of declining R&D efficiency with Dr. Jack Scannell, a scientist and entrepreneur who is well known for coining the term “Eroom’s law,” which highlights the decline in pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) productivity over several decades. In this episode, Jack sheds light on the root causes of this decline, beginning with a critique of the poor quality of diagnosis surrounding the R&D productivity problem. He also talks about the challenges in accurately measuring progress in drug research, highlighting the "measurement problem" in the drug industry. Jack suggests adopting a model akin to the "Stern Review” to improve the diagnosis of these challenges. Jack also addresses topics such as the shift in the frequency of serendipitous drug discoveries, the Eroom’s law article, the entanglement of science, money and drug development and many more. Feel free to navigate through any of the topics discussed in the Podcast using the timestamps below. ___ ⭐ Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 01:40 Poor quality of diagnosis of the R&D productivity problem 04:01 The measurement problem 09:21 Chesterton’s fence of R&D 14:38 Science, Drug development, Money. 20:46 The role of Serendipity in drug discovery 26:34 Economics in the drug industry. 34:43 Implicit knowledge within Biotech 41:43 Eroom's Law paper ____ If you prefer listening to podcasts on audio apps, feel free to search for "The DeSci Podcast" on Spotify, Google Podcasts & Apple Podcasts. You'll also find all links to the podcast apps below. If you want to join us on the show as a speaker or have guest ideas, please shoot us an mail at podcast@molecule.to Special thanks to Lea Degen: https://twitter.com/lealeata Jack Scannell: https://twitter.com/JackScannell13 ____ Let's connect: Website: https://bit.ly/3d6nh2C X: https://twitter.com/Molecule_dao Discord: https://discord.com/invite/moleculedao