The problem Ginger Science solves

A DeSci BluePrint. Ginger Science is an open-source implementation of DeSci features and functions intended not only to benefit us redheads, but also accelerate DeSci as an ecosystem.

Redheads make up just 1–2% of the global population, and as a result, they’ve been historically underrepresented in medical research. This leads to real gaps in care, from anesthesia dosage anomalies to heightened pain sensitivity and increased cancer risk. There is no centralized research effort focused on this genetically distinct group.

As a longtime web3 "legal engineer," one of the things I began to notice while working with DeSci founders was that many of them, like me, had red hair - certainly at a higher rate than the 1-2% of the population we represent.

People with red hair carry genetic mutations that result in a lifetime of medical, cultural and social “otherness.” It is known that we feel pain, heat and cold differently, and that we need more anesthesia. At the same time, we are often disproportionately impactful in the communities in which we live.

We know a lot of stories about redheads. We don't know much about what we need to live long, healthy lives that may differ from the 98% of the population.

Our BioAgent addresses this by automating the discovery, curation, and sharing of scientific knowledge specifically relevant to redheads, then packaging it for distribution to third parties. Without AI, the scale and nuance of this work, which spans dermatology, pharmacogenomics, neuroscience, and pain science, would be prohibitively labor-intensive.

Novel hypotheses that can be converted to IpNFTs. Collect, digest, and create novel hypotheses from peer-reviewed scientific literature. This solves the problem of "actionable insight" that is currently lacking for most agentic work. Humans cannot effectively do this work - it was not possible until AI.

Fact-check, Mint and publish NFTs. The agent must check links for validity so that we do not repeat the "Tradsci" mistake of repeating hallucinations as scientific fact. For redheads, an example of this repetition of false research is that the Malleus Maleficarum" is traditionally cited as associated with witches. Our AI Agent disproved that!

Manage and distribute research project data via NFTs. This solves the problems of data reusability, merchantability, privacy and compliance in a global, transparent marketplace. TradSci data solutions do not. Our agent collects user product reviews and surveys in a compliant manner, so that they can be resold, and the benefits shared by the data-contributing community, us redheads.

These processes are enhanced and extended by knowledge graphs. Our BioAgent uses knowledge graphs to generate new hypotheses and express the supporting logic, such that the hypothesis can be minted as an IpNFT. In an open environment the evidence can be scrutinized, and the hypothesis may be validated by rigorous web3 peer review.

SPF data marketplace
This agent will be implemented inthe context of our SPF Study. The starting point for Ginger Science is sunscreen. Redheads do not produce much eumelanin, which protects against cancer-causing UV radiation, i.e. sun. Our coppery pheomelanin is less effective. We have higher risk and incidence of skin cancer - I’ve had a few frozen off my proboscis myself. Redheads need sunscreen. But the sun protections available to redheads around the world vary.

In the United States, the FDA has not approved a new sunscreen since 1999. The FDA regulates sunscreens as drugs, not cosmetics. Since then, modern filters that are more effective and pleasant to use have been developed in Europe and Asia. Filters like Tinosorb, Uvinol and Mexoryl, cannot be sold in the United States as sunscreen, although they slip into the supply chain in cosmetic preparations. While it is possible to acquire some of these filters via gray market suppliers, it is difficult to verify the authenticity of the product. Counterfeits abound. The old-style compounds available in the USA like Avobenzone, Homosalate and Octinoxate are often unpleasant to use, have an offensive odor, sting the eyes, and potentially cause endocrine disruption. What is a redhead to do?

Global SPF Study: collect user data and scientific information in knowledge graphs that bring Ginger Science and MC1R research into relevant contexts. We will use this information to both improve our access to high-quality UV filters, create advocacy, and to develop knowledge about the effects of those filters on humans with MC1R variations.

Challenges I ran into

Data reliability vs user engagement tradeoffs. In order to create valid hypotheses that are fit for purpose to be minted as mainnet NFTs, we need to ensure that the agent we create only considers peer-reviewed data. We created an agent that did so, but this agent's scope of expertise was limited - it would not be able to answer a lot of edge questions that DeSci wants to encourage.

An LLM version of the agent was much more engaging. However, LLMs still yield hallucinations in terms of invented scientific data (just like they do with legal cases!). Conclusions of the LLM version would not be appropriate for minting NFTs to mainnet without additional improvements.

The full-text verifiability problem we experienced echoes the legal data reliability conundrum sets up our next build, which is a more robust, engaging, verifiable data set for suitable for clinical production.