Crowdfunding genomics and bioinformatics

Abstract

Online crowdfunding websites such as RocketHub, Indiegogo and Kickstarter have financed an increasingly eclectic variety of initiatives: multimillion dollar movie projects attached to big Hollywood names, music and book publishing, gadget development, a hoodie that lasts ten years. Controversially, one crowdfunding campaign aimed to raise funds for a drug dealer, who it was thought might be persuaded to hand over compromising video footage of a prominent politician in exchange for the cash. Recently, a number of scientists have sought to use crowdfunding as a means to bypass traditional funding routes when budgeting for new projects. In doing so, they are expanding on the concept of citizen science from crowd participation to crowdfunding. As is the traditional crowdfunding method, these scientists hope to attract funding using two main incentives: (1) the desire by the funder to see the project get off the ground, and (2) the acknowledgement of donations with a range of rewards – some of significant monetary value. Donors also have the security of knowing that payment will only be taken once a project is fully funded, thereby reducing the risk of wasting money on a dud. To start crowdfunding your own science, or to discover projects to donate to, you can now even use a dedicated crowdfunding website for scientific research, Microryza (https://www.microryza.com/), alongside the more general crowdfunding websites. Rather than receive physical rewards, donors on Microryza gain exclusive access to updates on the progress of their funded research. Here, three sets of scientists describe their experience of crowdfunding projects in the fields of genomics and bioinformatics: PathoMap (http://www.indiegogo.com/ projects/pathomap-mapping-nyc-s-microscopic-residents),