VitaDAO, a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) focused on longevity research, has launched a biotech company called Matrix Biosciences. Matrix Biosciences, in partnership with biologist Vera Gorbunova, a professor at the University of Rochester, aims to advance research into cancer treatment and age-related diseases by studying the naked mole-rat, a long-lived rodent known for its anti-cancerous properties.
Matrix Biosciences, unlike VitaDAO, will operate as a centralized company. VitaDAO will be the majority shareholder and will receive quarterly reports from the biotech company. The goal is to demonstrate how blockchain can effectively coexist with the biotech industry.
The research conducted by Matrix Biosciences will focus on the naked mole-rat’s high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW-HA), a compound known for its anti-cancer, anti-pain, and pro-longevity properties. The company aims to harness these characteristics to develop applications for cancer treatment and age-related diseases in humans.
VitaDAO Ventures into Biotech with Matrix Biosciences for Anti-Cancer Research
VitaDAO’s mission is to fund “moonshot bleeding-edge research” that often doesn’t qualify for traditional sources of funding. The launch of Matrix Biosciences with VitaDAO’s initial $300,000 investment signals a commitment to advancing cutting-edge longevity research in the biotech community.
This development highlights the growing interest in using blockchain and decentralized organizations to advance scientific research and innovation, even in highly regulated fields like biotechnology and healthcare.