
The DeSci Podcast
Rethinking Science - Let's talk to the leaders of the decentralized science industry about the future of biotech. Brought to you by www.molecule.to
Want to join the stage? Apply as a speaker here: podcast@molecule.to
Latest episodes

Jul 23, 2024 • 50min
Revolutionizing Drug Development for Rare Diseases Through AI | Alok Tayi
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.

Jun 30, 2024 • 52min
Decentralizing Healthcare Data Management: Hippocrat's Vision for Data Sovereignty
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.
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⭐ 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
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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
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Let's connect:
Website: https://bit.ly/3d6nh2C
X: https://twitter.com/Molecule_dao
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/moleculedao

6 snips
May 28, 2024 • 48min
Revolutionizing Research and Innovation Through Blockchain Technology
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.

May 2, 2024 • 47min
Diagnosing the drug R&D productivity decline with Dr Jack Scannell
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.
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⭐ 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
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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
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Let's connect:
Website: https://bit.ly/3d6nh2C
X: https://twitter.com/Molecule_dao
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/moleculedao

Apr 9, 2024 • 1h 6min
How ResearchHub Makes Open Science Rewarding by Reinventing Academic Incentives
Join Jeffrey Koury and Jonathan Heppner in a discussion on ResearchHub's mission to revolutionize scientific research by promoting open collaboration. They explore the shortcomings of the current research model and the importance of building better incentive structures. Dive into topics like the role of ResearchHub in scientific literature, public versus anonymous peer review, and the significance of books in academia.

Mar 23, 2024 • 50min
Seemay Chou on Arcadia's Revolutionary Approach to Science and Entrepreneurship
Today we are delighted to host Seemay Chow, Co-founder and CEO of Arcadia Science, a for-profit research institute with a specific focus on novel model organisms that haven't been traditionally studied in the lab and translating discoveries into commercial ventures.
In this episode, we discuss Arcadia’s mission, structure and approach, emphasizing the importance of providing scientists with the context needed to understand the practical applications of their research. Seemay explains how this approach fosters a different kind of creativity among researchers, thus increasing the likelihood of research success.
We also explore the limitations researchers face in the traditional setting while further highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of Academia and industry. Other topics we touched on include notions of diversity in science, strategies for spotting the best talents and ideas to fund, and many more.
Feel free to navigate through the various topics covered in the Podcast using the timestamps provided below.
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⭐ Timestamps:
0:00 Intro.
0:49 Effects of running a for-profit venture on Arcadia’s structure.
3:05 What is Arcadia?
7:35 Researchers limitations in Academia.
11:45 Academia vs the private sector.
16:21 Insights gained from building Arcadia.
27:54 Arcadia structure.
30:38 Diversity in science.
35:24 Strategies for discovering the best talents.
43:28 Contextualizing science.
49:50 Outro.
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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
Seemay Chou: https://twitter.com/seemaychou
____
Let's connect:
Website: https://bit.ly/3d6nh2C
X: https://twitter.com/Molecule_dao
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/moleculedao

Mar 9, 2024 • 1h 9min
The DeSci London Conference 2024: A Preview with Alfred Brown
Welcome to another episode of the DeSci podcast. Today, we were joined by Alfred Brown, co-founder of Desci London, a community dedicated to transforming science through web3 technology.
In this episode, we talked about the DeSci London conference (scheduled for Saturday, 23 Mar 2024, 09:30 - Sunday, 24 Mar 2024, 16:30 GMT).
This two-day event aims to spotlight the transformative potential of blockchain technology in the field of science, covering agendas such as Longevity research, Rare diseases, DeSci Tooling and Infrastructure, Climate tech innovations, Women’s health, and more.
Alfred shares insights into the event's objectives, potential speakers, and details on how to livestream for those unable to attend in person.
In addition to the main discussion, we explored the intersection between web3 and science, the importance of community in Desci, and several other topics.
Feel free to navigate through the various topics covered in the Podcast using the timestamps provided below.
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⭐ Timestamps:
0:00 intro
1:16 Alfred’s journey into DeSci.
04:57 What was your experience diving into blockchain as a beginner?
07:12 Recommendations for scientists venturing into DeSci.
11:34 DeSci London event.
16:55 How to apply for the travel grant.
22:38 The role of art and creativity in science.
28:33 Community-building in DeSci.
29:54 How to find the DeSci London monthly meetups.
30:46 Insights for aspiring Desci community builders.
37:22 Potential speakers for the event.
45:36 How to live stream the DeSci London event.
49:29 Other notable DeSci events.
52:23 Impact of younger generations in DeSci.
56:00 Molecule and Nucleate partnership.
58:48 The necessity of community in Desci.
1:08:09 Outro
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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
Alfred Brown: https://twitter.com/AlfredJBrown99
____
Let's connect:
Website: https://bit.ly/3d6nh2C
X: https://twitter.com/Molecule_dao
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/moleculedao

Jan 29, 2024 • 47min
Challenging the Status Quo: Stuart Buck on Science Funding & Research
Welcome to another episode of the DeSci Podcast! Today, we are delighted to host Stuart Buck. Stuart serves as a Senior Advisor at the Social Science Research Council and is the Executive Director of the Good Science Project—an organization dedicated to enhancing the funding and practice of science.
In this episode, Stuart addresses key challenges in the scientific landscape, such as bureaucratic obstacles to funding and the distinction between basic and applied science.
He emphasizes the interconnected nature of basic and applied research, highlighting how discoveries from basic research lay the foundation for applied innovations and challenges addressed through applied science inspire new questions in basic research.
Moving further, Stuart shares his view on the metaphor of failure in science. According to him, failure is not synonymous with defeat; instead, encountering failures in scientific endeavors indicates that one is posing pertinent questions and pushing the boundaries of knowledge.
Other topics covered in the podcast include scientific reproducibility, the measurement problem in science, enforcing data accessibility, and many more.
Feel free to navigate through the various topics covered in the Podcast using the timestamps provided below.
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⭐ Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
01:27 Good science project main focus.
03:37 Stuart’s theory of social change
10:04 Areas that need improvement
13:00 Recommendation for young researchers
17:35 Why grantmakers tend to be conservative in funding basic science
21:45 Basic vs Applied research
24:15 The notion of failure in science
30:59 Revisiting anti-portfolio
37:37 The value of funding replication in research
43:45 The problem with metrics
46:49 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 Degen: https://twitter.com/lealeata
Stuart Buck: https://twitter.com/stuartbuck1
____
Let's connect:
Website: https://bit.ly/3d6nh2C
X: https://twitter.com/Molecule_dao
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/moleculedao

Jan 17, 2024 • 36min
Advancing Research in Brain Health and Longevity through Decentralized Science | Brian Magierski
Brian Magierski, CEO and Founder of Cerebrum DAO, discusses the mission behind Cerebrum DAO, the motivations behind his interest in brain health research, and why he chose the DAO model. They also touch on topics like collaborating with biotech companies, maintaining scientific quality in decentralized funding, and how DAOs enable entrepreneurship.

Dec 1, 2023 • 36min
Keith Comito's Insights on Aging Research and Lifespan Extension
Keith Comito, President at Lifespan, shares insights on aging research, attitudes towards lifespan extension, and the impact aging research can have on humanity. They discuss the relevance of studying history in tech, the limits to extending lifespan, and pros and cons of traditional science methods. The podcast explores contentious topics within the aging research field, the influence of religion on perspectives of aging, and the significance of aging research for societal benefits.