A Global Alarm: The Impact of U.S. Science Funding Reductions

Recent reductions in funding across key U.S. health agencies have sent shockwaves through the global scientific community. At the center of this crisis is a $4 billion freeze on National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding - a decision that risks undermining the very foundation of biomedical innovation.

This isn't just a line item on a federal budget. It’s a direct hit to early-stage research, and the impact on long-term drug development and the overall health infrastructure will be lasting and profound.

Once again, the need to build a steadfast scientific funding infrastructure has become evident. At Molecule, we’re not waiting for old systems to catch up. We’re building a system that empowers scientists with the agility, financial independence, and support they need to thrive in this new era of research.

Have you been impacted by funding cuts? We’re helping researchers across the globe source funding for critical research. Contact us today to learn more. 

Billions Lost, Thousands at Risk: The Real Cost of NIH Cuts

With an annual budget of approximately $48 billion, the NIH is responsible for funding up to 94% of all biomedical research in the U.S. This support is foundational. NIH-backed research has played a role in 99% of the drugs approved between 2010 and 2019.

But in recent months, the NIH has faced swift and extreme funding cuts, leaving many researchers completely impeded. Those who have escaped the cuts live in uncertainty, unable to predict the new funding landscape they are faced with. Karlin Compton, a PhD candidate at Northwestern University shared; "As a researcher in biology, our entire field benefits from NIH funding in some way. New government officials believe they’re changing research for the better, but instead they’re disrupting the groundbreaking work people are doing and causing irreparable damage to the synergistic relationship between governmental funding and research for the greater good that took decades to establish. Young graduate students, especially those like me from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds are feeling nothing but uncertainty and fear at how we are going to be able to not only perform research and publish our work, but also support ourselves and our families."

The reductions include a dramatic cut in indirect cost reimbursement, from an average of 30% (with some institutions receiving up to 70%) to a flat 15%. This shift threatens to eliminate ~$5 billion annually from the budgets of academic and research hospitals, undermining the operational capacity of these institutions.

These cancellations are already causing ripple effects, shutting down promising research, and pausing projects that address pressing public health challenges. Across social media and institutional forums, scientists are raising alarm: stalled grants, lost renewals, and disappearing career paths. The research community is facing a climate of fear and instability.

Up to 5,000 NIH staff positions (25% of its workforce) are at risk, alongside thousands of jobs at universities and hospitals nationwide. The cost isn’t just financial. It’s human, and it’s happening now.

The Ripple Effect of Budget Cuts

NIH funding is not simply an expense; it’s an investment that yields considerable returns. Data shows that every $1 invested in NIH funding generates $2.46 in economic activity. By slashing NIH funding, these economic returns are put in jeopardy; a $4 billion reduction could result in a $10 billion loss to the economy, affecting not only the scientific community but also the large industries that depend on biomedical research.

Finding Hope: How DeSci Offers Solutions in the Face of Funding Uncertainty

Scientists are feeling afraid. The world they woke up in has changed, and the reliability of these legacy institutions has been called into question. But, this is not all bad. Times of disruption can catalyze great change and the adoption of new systems.

It has long been clear that the traditional funding model is too slow and fragile for today’s pace of innovation. It's more important than ever to adopt models that prioritize scientific progress. With lay-offs and funding cuts threatening the progress of scientific research in the U.S., decentralized science (DeSci) is a critical balm addressing the challenges faced by the scientific community today.

DeSci is a global movement that leverages technological advancements such as blockchain technology to make science accessible, equitable, and fast. It challenges the bottlenecks of legacy systems by unlocking new paths for funding, collaboration, and ownership in research.

At Molecule, we are building a system that gives scientists the agility and financial independence they need, ensuring they secure the support to continue their work in a community-driven science ecosystem.

A New Era for Science: Empowering Innovation Through DeSci

DeSci has already quietly been reshaping scientific funding.

Take VITA-RNA for example, which is focused on innovative RNA therapies, exemplifies what happens when scientists step outside the broken funding system. Supported by Molecule’s decentralized intellectual property (IP) protocol, Dr Michael Torres and his team were able to secure the resources needed to advance their research. Their science accelerated because they weren't constantly fighting the system designed to support them.

Similarly, Karda Forge raised $200K in 26 minutes - a far cry from the months that typical grant applications take. Today, critical research into biomining and e-waste is occurring because of support from the DeSci ecosystem. 

These success stories signify a shift. There are viable alternative pathways for scientists facing today's unprecedented funding challenges.

Ready to Explore Alternatives?

If you're a researcher affected by these recent challenges, we're here to explore how alternative solutions might support your invaluable work. 

‍We’d love to talk to you.

Welcome to the latest building block of Molecule’s IP Protocol, Proof of Invention! 

PoI offers a seamless, affordable, and secure way to prove ownership of your innovative ideas. Whether you're an early-stage inventor or part of a decentralized scientific community, PoI provides a timestamped, verifiable proof of creation, empowering you to protect and manage your ideas more efficiently. Here’s how you can get started with PoI.

‍Step 1: Visit Molecule’s Website

Start by heading over to Molecule’s website. Once you're there, look for the 'Create' button on the homepage. Click on it to begin the process of registering your invention and creating your PoI.

This will guide you to the PoI platform where you can securely submit your invention details and generate the unique, timestamped proof linked to your wallet.

Step 2: Login or Connect Your Wallet

To get started with creating your Proof of Invention, you'll need to log in to the platform.

Connect with Web3 Wallet: You can connect with a Web3 wallet like MetaMask. If you don’t already have one, download the MetaMask extension or MetaMask app by following the setup guide.

Log In with email or socials: Alternatively, you can log in using your e-mail address or your Google account.

Step 3: Present Your Invention

Once you’ve logged in, you can securely submit the confidential files that describe your invention. Rest assured, your content remains private, nothing is disclosed during this process.

Step 4: Upload Your Invention Files

Drag and drop your files, or select the files and folders from your device that describe your invention. 

Ideally, add a plain README.md text file to your PoI files. This file is optional, but if you choose to make it publicly visible later, it allows others to understand and reasoning behind your innovation.

After uploading your invention files, click on “Create PoI root” to register you PoI.

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Step 4: Confirm via Your Wallet to Generate PoI

Once your invention files are uploaded, you'll need to confirm the transaction in your wallet to generate the Proof of Invention (PoI). This action links the unique, timestamped cryptographic hash to your wallet, securing your intellectual property with verifiable proof of creation.

Simply approve the request in your wallet to complete the process and finalize the generation of your PoI.

Step 5: Verify Ownership and Access Your PoI

Once your PoI is registered, click on "My Inventions" to access the PoI root and view your registered invention. This is where you can track and manage your PoIs, ensuring your IP is securely stored and easily accessible.

You can easily prove you're the original creator at any point in time by revealing only a portion of your invention. This ensures that your intellectual property remains secure and verifiable without disclosing sensitive details.

You're Ready to Protect Your Invention!

That's it! You've successfully registered and timestamped your PoI, and are ready to verify ownership. By using this innovative onchain solution, you're not only securing your intellectual property with verifiable proof of creation but also taking control of how your innovations are protected. 

Welcome to the future of IP!

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Introducing Proof of Invention

Since our founding, Molecule has been working towards a future where scientific collaboration is as seamless and accessible as possible, dedicating ourselves to building primitives that revolutionize the intellectual property system.

We began this journey with the introduction of IP-NFTs, unique tokens that represent intellectual property (IP) rights, making ideas discoverable and tradable. Building upon this, we extended the concept with IP Tokens (IPTs), which enable a crypto-native incentive layer for research. Last year, we pilot-launched another primitive - Proof of Invention (PoI). Today, we’re unveiling it for all. 

The Power of Intellectual Property

The latest building block of Molecule’s IP Protocol, Proof of Invention, is designed to empower innovators to protect their ideas with confidence and ease. It provides a timestamped, verifiable proof of creation, establishing indisputable evidence of an invention from the moment of its conception.

With PoI, inventors can:

• Secure their intellectual property instantly and affordably—cheaper than filing a provisional patent or even mailing a letter to themselves.
• Anchor proof on any public ledger, eliminating the need for expensive and complex traditional IP processes.
• Lay the foundation for seamless IP management, including the potential to mint IP-NFTs and tokenize their inventions into IPTs.
• Maintain complete portability at no additional cost, crossing geographical barriers in ways traditional systems cannot.

Who Can Leverage Proof of Invention? 

• For Early-Stage Inventors: PoI is ideal for inventors and researchers who need a secure, affordable way to document their ideas before sharing them with others, eliminating the costs and complexities  of provisional patents. 
• For Decentralized Scientific Communities (like BioDAOs): PoI helps them track innovation, attribute credit to original thinkers, and incentivize new discoveries within their communities. 

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Why Use Proof-of-Invention?

• Facilitates IP Tokenization: If an inventor pursues further protection, their onchain proof can be used later in the IP-NFT minting process, enabling tokenization of their intellectual property.
• Compatible with traditional IP systems: PoI aligns with existing IP systems, allowing inventors to use it as evidence when filing patents or presenting their idea in legal proceedings.
• Effortless and transparent: With just a few clicks, inventors can create a verifiable, immutable proof of their work. 

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How It Works 

1. Connect: Connect to the platform using either your email or your web3 native wallet, such as Metamask.
2. Present files: Present the confidential files that describe your novel invention. Inventions remain secret as content is never disclosed.
3. Generate proof: A unique hash is created and linked to your wallet, proving you're the original creator.
4. Verify ownership: Easily prove you're the original creator at any point in time by revealing only a portion of your invention.

Explore more here. 

Pilot Partners & Early Impact 

Proof of Invention has already been shaping the future of onchain scientific IP with early pilot partners paving the way for its full-scale launch. The foundation is set, and the ripple effects are only beginning.

CerebrumDAO & Fission Pharma 

CerebrumDAO minted its very first IP-NFT from a PoI, supporting Fission Pharma’s work on a new medicine to help treat diseases linked to aging. Inspired by nature’s blueprint - our very own bodies - the medication targets chronic inflammation that contributes to rare brain diseases. The project raised additional 67+ ETH ($183,000) via an IPT crowdsale - demonstrating the power of Molecule’s IP protocol. 

You can find the IP-NFT here. 

Cambridge Biohackathon

Molecule’s Tech & Product team took a field trip to Cambridge - a historic crucible of scientific innovation where breakthroughs like the computer, DNA helix, in vitro fertilization, and our understanding of gravity first emerged - to get real-time feedback at the Cambridge Biohackathon. The nine final ideas were all registered onchain using PoI. 

Pump Science compounds

Pump Science is turning longevity research into a spectator sport, using memecoin tokenomics to fund real scientific advancements. 

Next up on the starting line? A set of compounds submitted by the VitaDAO community - each registered onchain using PoI. They’ll be going live on Pump Science soon - turn on post notifications to stay updated. 

PsyDAO & OPSY

PsyDAO’s OPSY (Open Psychedelic Science ecosYstem) allows research participants to share data securely while receiving tokenized rewards representing governance rights. The process starts by registering OPSY’s intellectual property onchain using Molecule’s Proof of Invention. 

You can find the IP-NFT here.  

Decentralizing Science with Decentralized Intellectual Property

At Molecule, we are creating a decentralized ecosystem where researchers, innovators, contributors, and patients can collaborate and share their work and experiences without bureaucratic obstacles. We’re putting power back in the hands of the people driving the future of science.

We invite you to join us in shaping the future of decentralized IP management and scientific innovation:

• Register your own Proof of Invention today!
• Follow @molecule_dao on Twitter for updates.
• Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed.
• Interested in contributing or becoming an early adopter? Join our Discord

The future of intellectual property is onchain. Be part of it.

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