Independent researchers work outside of academic institutions and industry, unaffiliated with pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, or other entities that stand to gain financially from the outcomes of their research. Honestly, since their independent work still involves the systematic investigation of treatments, interventions, and therapies to determine safety and efficacy, but without the influence of profit margin, independent researchers may be the last flame-keepers of pure science.
While this independence sounds ideal, as it mitigates conflicts of interest and opens up scientific inquiry outside of mainstream thinking, independent researchers do face unique challenges, namely limitations in funding opportunities and recruitment. Fortunately, the DeSci community is well-prepared to help independent researchers overcome these challenges.
How Do You Become an Independent Researcher?
If you asked a neurologist, a frontline geneticist, or a pediatric oncologist this question (all interested in research and development over practice), you’d get different answers. But, the thread line seems to be something relating to undiscovered potential. When universities or the medical industry wants something, there is little room for deviation, no matter what the science says, especially if it’s not profitable – which, in turn, makes it not fundable. Ask anyone who’s carefully worded a grant application to begin a research program.
But what if this out-of-bounds type of research, conducted by vetted and talented clinicians, was fundable by an enthusiastic community of nickel-and-dimed investors? Not every independent clinician or research team funded by DeSci will create their own Earth-shattering biotech firm, but some could, and in the natural momentum of technological currents, DeSci could serve as a lifeboat to otherwise overlooked and/or underfunded projects.
We’ll say that to say this: There may be legitimate reasons why an institution or academia didn’t want to fund someone’s scientific research. Without putting on our aluminum hats, there may also be illegitimate reasons institutions or academia (or industry) didn’t want to fund legitimate research. Or, they may be students or postdoctoral researchers with a good idea outside of their “day job.” Regardless, independent researchers can come “as they are” to DeSci as people. It’s a bit more incorruptible business casual.
Supporting Independent Scientists in a New Age
While some may think that DeSci would usher in a Wild West of unchecked pseudoscience (which the status quo already does), much like institutional researchers, independent clinical researchers in DeSci would still adhere to methodological standards and ethical guidelines in their specific research areas.
In fact, the immutable effects of blockchain on IP and peer review would make things more stringent, helping to uphold the integrity and reliability of findings. In DeSci, within its more technologically sound process, you’d follow the same agreed-upon protocols, such as:
- Informed Consent: This ensures that study participants fully understand the risks and benefits before agreeing to participate. For example, by collaborating with DataLake, AxonDAO was able to facilitate simple methods for research participants to give consent for its voice biomarker project, A+Voice.
- Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): Often considered the gold standard, RCTs involve randomly assigning participants to treatment or control groups to minimize bias. DeSci can help researchers overcome recruitment limitations by broadening participant pools through incentivization and tokenization.
- Peer Review: Subjecting research findings to peer review by experts in the field to validate methodology, results, and conclusions is a fundamental aspect of research. DeSci entities such as ResearchHub allow independent researchers to still access a peer review process, without the scams or biases that have infiltrated scholarly publishing.
Independent Science Can Help Our Self-Destruction
The future of independent clinical research lies in leveraging emerging technologies such as big data analytics and artificial intelligence to enhance study design, data analysis, and patient recruitment. To help overcome the challenges typically faced by independent clinical researchers, DeSci organizations collaborate with other DeSci entities, passionate-minded people, and strategic partners to support robust research initiatives.
Independent research projects can contribute invaluable knowledge that shapes the future of healthcare for the better, but many of these projects need support, research funding, and the time of day. As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern medicine, supporting and investing in independent clinical research will remain essential for promoting health, well-being, and scientific progress worldwide.
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