# VitaDAO > VitaDAO is a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) dedicated to funding and advancing early-stage longevity science research. Members collectively govern a treasury and vote on research proposals using the VITA governance token on Ethereum. ## What is VitaDAO? VitaDAO was founded in 2021 as a decentralized science (DeSci) pioneer. It funds and incubates longevity research, with the community governing research proposals and a shared treasury. Some projects use Intellectual Property Tokens (IPTs) to coordinate funding and governance around project IP. The VITA token (ERC-20) is VitaDAO's governance token. ## Key Pages - [Home](https://www.vitadao.com): Mission and overview - [Research](https://www.vitadao.com/research): How VitaDAO funds research via IPTs, Scientific Advisory Board, funded projects - [Projects](https://www.vitadao.com/projects): All funded longevity research projects with status and updates - [Blog](https://www.vitadao.com/blog): Research updates, longevity newsletters, and science articles - [VITA Token](https://www.vitadao.com/vita-token): Governance token — how to acquire and use VITA - [Why Longevity](https://www.vitadao.com/why-longevity): The scientific and moral case for longevity research - [Vita App](https://www.vitadao.com/vita-app): Product landing page for VitaDAO's private health intelligence app - [Launch Vita App](https://app.vitadao.com/login): External application for bringing labs, wearables, research-informed AI, and a Health Calendar into one private health record ## Research Areas VitaDAO funds research across: senolytics, epigenetic reprogramming, gene therapy (VitaRNA/ARTAN Bio), metabolic aging (VITA-FAST), mTOR/rapamycin, stem cell biology, and computational aging models. ## Scientific Advisory Board VitaDAO's Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) reviews research proposals before community voting: - **Aubrey de Grey** — Biomedical gerontologist, founder of LEV Foundation, pioneer of the SENS (Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence) rejuvenation research framework - **Matt Kaeberlein** — CEO of Optispan, Co-Founder of the Dog Aging Project, expert on rapamycin, mTOR, and biological mechanisms of aging; Professor at University of Washington - **Marco Quarta** — CSO of Rubedo Life Sciences, former Stanford researcher in regenerative medicine and stem cell biology, expert in senolytics - **Sebastian Brunemeier** — Partner at Long Game Ventures, biotech VC and founder of multiple longevity companies including Cambrian Biopharma and Samsara Therapeutics - **Jack Scannell** — CEO of Etheros Pharmaceuticals, coined "Eroom's Law" describing the decline in pharma R&D productivity ## Governance Proposals are reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Board and voted on by VITA token holders. Approved research receives funding and an IPT is minted representing the resulting intellectual property. ## Key Facts - Founded: 2021 - Token: VITA (ERC-20 on Ethereum) - Category: DeSci (Decentralized Science), Longevity, BioDAO - Projects funded: 31 - Funding deployed: $4.7M - Project FDV: $60.0M - IPTs generated: 8 - Companies founded: 3 - Mechanism: Intellectual Property Tokens (IPTs) ## Common Questions **What is an IPT?** An Intellectual Property Token (IPT) is a project-specific token associated with early-stage biotech intellectual property. VitaDAO projects may use IPTs to coordinate research funding and governance around project IP. **What is the VITA token?** VITA is an ERC-20 governance token on Ethereum. Holders use it to vote on research funding proposals and treasury decisions. **What is DeSci?** Decentralized Science — an emerging movement using blockchain technology to fund, govern, and commercialize scientific research without traditional institutional gatekeepers. ## Links - Sitemap: https://www.vitadao.com/sitemap.xml - Agent API: https://www.vitadao.com/.well-known/openapi.json - Agent card (A2A): https://www.vitadao.com/.well-known/agent-card.json - Agent manifest: https://www.vitadao.com/.well-known/agents.json