Molecule Ecosystem, July 2024

Catalyst Launch, Project Transfidelity Researcher AMA, Catalyst Quests, Future Catalyst Projects, & More

Catalyst is Officially Here

Catalyst is now live! We are extremely excited to announce the launch of Catalyst with the first project, Project Transfidelity, officially up for funding. Catalyst democratizes funding for early-stage research by connecting researchers with a global network of funders. With Catalyst, users can fund research projects directly and receive rights to the underlying IP in the form of IP Tokens.

New projects will be released regularly on the platform, and the first research project on Catalyst is already live! Project Transfidelity, led by researchers Dr. Dimitri Scherbakov and Dr. Rashid Akbergenov, aims to advance Alzheimer's and dementia research. Over 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia and Alzheimer's, and that number is set to double every 20 years. Despite decades of research and $3 billion of funding each year, we are left with less-than-ideal treatments and no cures.

Project Transfidelity is tackling a potential root cause of neurodegenerative diseases: protein production (translational) fidelity. Their novel approach aims to reduce errors in this process to prevent protein aggregates in the brain, long thought to be a cause of dementia. Dr. Scherbakov and Dr. Akbergenov have already identified two compounds that improve the accuracy of protein printing and are seeking funding through Catalyst to bring drug candidates to fruition. 

Want information on new project listings straight to your inbox? Get on the CataList. https://moleculeprotocol.typeform.com/to/ccjED8E2?typeform-source=MoleculeNewsletterJuly2024 

For more on Catalyst, read the blog: https://www.molecule.xyz/blog/molecule-launches-catalyst

To learn more about Project Transfidelity, check it out on Catalyst: https://catalyst.molecule.xyz/projects/56088824630436523458560020630177687929708827628781496801260762001294483992167 

Project Transfidelity AMA Recap

Last week, we hosted the researchers behind the first project listed on Catalyst, Dr. Dimitri Scherbakov and Dr. Rashid Akbergenov, on X to talk about Project Transfidelity and hear more about how their project came to be. We covered the researchers' backgrounds, the inspiration behind starting Project Transfidelity, why their research stands out in neurodegenerative research, and the impact this could have on advancing Alzheimer’s and dementia research.  

Catch the entire AMA here: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1yNGagjXOadxj 

Catalyst Quests Await You 

Catalyst Quests have arrived! Looking for a way to dive into the Catalyst platform? Catalyst Quests are the perfect starting point. By joining Catalyst Quests, you can start earning XP from engaging with with the Catalyst platform and participating in events.

How can you earn XP?

Get involved by sharing feedback on projects, participating in researcher AMA events, or asking the researcher thought-provoking questions. Each action helps shape the future of science and earns you XP. 

Your first task is to reveal your Patron of Science. Take the quiz, find out what patron you are, and mint your Patron of Science NFT. This inner patron will guide you on your journey, completing quests, earning XP, and advancing science 🔮

Take the quiz now and step into your destiny: https://app.rep3.gg/Molecule/quest/patron-of-science 

Catalyst on Base

It’s time we brought science on-chain with Base! We are excited to announce that Catalyst will utilize Base as its blockchain of choice. As we push the boundaries of scientific innovation, it's crucial that our platform is built on technology that accelerates this mission. Base offers the perfect balance of speed and low cost that an L2 provides with the security and stability of Ethereum. 

BIO Genesis Swap

The BIO token generation event, BIO Genesis, officially went live on August 8th and in a matter of days has crossed $4.25M in funding out of its $6.6M goal!

BIO is a new protocol aimed at accelerating biotech DAOs and tokenized science, powered in part by Molecule’s IP framework. You can participate in BIO Genesis using one of 8 eligible DeSci tokens (e.g., VITA, NEURON, GROW), uniting the top DeSci communities and creating a diversified treasury for the BIO Protocol to fund more science. Once the auction’s ~$6.6m cap is reached, the initial auction will close, and you’ll have to wait until the next round of Genesis to participate.

Join BIO Genesis here.

Thanks for Reading!

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