VitaDAO Launches First IPT Offering VITA-FAST With 1700 Oversubscription

VitaDAO is a decentralized science (DeSci) protocol designed to fund early-stage longevity research by leveraging blockchain technology. Through Molecule’s IP-NFT and IPT frameworks, VitaDAO aims to transform the traditional scientific funding model by making it more open, collaborative, and community-driven. The initiative addresses the challenge known as the “valley of death,” which refers to the gap between early scientific discoveries and their eventual commercialization into patient-accessible innovations [1].

DeSci projects like VitaDAO use blockchain to create permissionless and community-controlled environments for scientific research. By doing so, they aim to return ownership and control over scientific discoveries to the public. VitaDAO specifically focuses on biotech and longevity research, having already raised over $10 million, with approximately $4 million directed toward longevity projects [1].

VitaDAO operates as a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) governed by VITA token holders. These holders can vote on proposals related to research funding and project development. The VITA token supply is capped at 64,298,880 tokens, with 57.7% reserved for the DAO’s long-term sustainability. Token allocations also include support for working groups, service providers, and strategic contributors who bring expertise and resources to the initiative [1].

A key innovation of VitaDAO is the use of IP-NFTs and IPTs. IP-NFTs tokenize intellectual property (IP) on the blockchain, granting ownership of the associated research. These NFTs can be sold or further tokenized into IPTs, which are fungible tokens representing community ownership and governance rights over the underlying scientific work. This model allows for decentralized funding and governance, creating a new asset class known as virtualized IP [1].

VitaDAO recently launched its first IPT offering, VITA-FAST, in collaboration with the Korolchuk Lab at Newcastle University. The project, focused on autophagy and cell rejuvenation, saw an oversubscription of 1,700%, demonstrating strong public interest in longevity research and the viability of VitaDAO’s approach [1].

By enabling researchers to tokenize their work, VitaDAO improves collaboration and liquidity in scientific research. NFTs provide a transparent and immutable record of ownership, while tokenized projects allow for global participation. Researchers can also incentivize contributions through bounties, encouraging international collaboration. VitaDAO is also part of the bio.xyz network, which supports a range of community-led BioDAOs and accelerates translational science through shared resources and legal frameworks [1].

Moreover, VitaDAO aims to increase the quality and cost-effectiveness of drug development by involving patients and researchers in governance. This aligns incentives across stakeholders, potentially reducing costs while improving outcomes. The model also enhances the discoverability of research projects, as Molecule’s marketplace connects researchers with investors, making it easier to identify and fund promising projects [1].

Overall, VitaDAO represents a new paradigm in scientific research funding. By leveraging blockchain and tokenization, it seeks to decentralize control, improve collaboration, and make science more accessible and affordable. While still in its early stages, the DeSci movement has the potential to disrupt traditional funding models and democratize innovation. Investors and participants are advised to conduct their own due diligence before engaging with such projects [1].

Source: [1] What Is VitaDAO and How It Supports Scientific Research (https://www.coingecko.com/learn/what-is-vitadao-vita-desci)