Aubrai launches on Base, marking a bold new era for decentralized science (DeSci) by bridging the critical funding gap known as the “valley of death” in biomedical research. This innovative AI-driven project is designed to accelerate longevity science by offering blockchain-based funding, governance, and data utilization mechanisms previously inaccessible to traditional labs.
How the XRPL-Powered Aubrai Program Works
Aubrai is part of the Bio Protocol and functions through an advanced AI agent system on Base. It draws from unpublished datasets provided by renowned biomedical gerontologist Aubrey de Grey and his LEV Foundation. Through this partnership, Aubrai accesses proprietary longevity research to generate actionable hypotheses ahead of other research labs.
The system organizes and ingests scientific data into a dynamic knowledge graph. These insights are then turned into hypotheses using AI. Each hypothesis is submitted to token holders via on-chain proposals, where the AUBRAI governance token allows holders to vote on which experiments receive funding. Commercially viable findings are tokenized into IP-assets that can be licensed out, with revenues benefiting researchers and token stakeholders alike.
This visualization highlights Aubrai’s decentralized approach to funding and discovery in longevity research.
Integration with Bio Protocol and Regulatory Compliance
Aubrai is built collaboratively by Bio Protocol and VitaDAO, operating on the Base blockchain. Launched through Bio Protocol’s Launchpad, the AUBRAI token empowers holders by offering governance rights and long-term incentives related to research outcomes. This structure mimics venture capital economics but with the transparency and community inclusion made possible through DAOs and blockchain governance.
However, using tokenized intellectual property to fund science invites questions around regulation. As with many DeSci platforms, the challenge lies in maintaining scientific credibility while navigating legal frameworks and the cautious nature of established pharmaceutical companies.
Company Vision and Impact on the Market
Co-founder Paul Kohlhaas sees Aubrai as doing for scientists what platforms like Substack did for writers: decentralizing control and enabling sustainable monetization. “Bio’s infrastructure can turn scientists into the next great creator economy,” said Kohlhaas.
This bold claim is supported by Aubrai’s practical contributions to studies like the Robust Mouse Rejuvenation (RMR2) experiment—one of the largest lifespan studies on rodents. The AI agent has already suggested crucial methodological changes and identified dosing issues usually uncovered only through weeks of manual reviewing, according to de Grey.
“Having the agent at our disposal has been transformative,” said de Grey, noting that the ongoing RMR2 project involves complex overlapping studies. The AI helped anticipate issues and propose workarounds not visible from legacy literature reviews alone.
Decentralized Science Faces Hurdles
Despite these advances, DeSci still faces significant obstacles. Decentralized platforms like Aubrai will need to prove dependable enough for mainstream scientific and pharmaceutical institutions. Additionally, regulatory bodies may scrutinize the tokenization of intellectual property.
But for fields like anti-aging, where traditional investors shy away due to long R&D cycles, this model provides fresh hope. It uses blockchain not only for scarcity and trading, but as a tool to accelerate legitimate research—suggesting a future beyond speculative tokens.
If successful, Aubrai could serve as a proof-of-concept for how decentralized governance and on-chain intelligence can revolutionize the life sciences. This could lead to a post-philanthropy era of scientific advancement, where breakthroughs can scale without relying solely on grants or venture capital.
