Clinical Research Directory

Personalized NFTs as a Trial Participation Incentive

NFTs are blockchain-based digital and physical assets traded on digital marketplaces. Current and exploratory NFT use cases include art, collectibles, in-game items, real estate, ticketing, events, fintech, licenses, IDs, and healthcare. NFT marketplaces, online games, virtual worlds, and open-source coding platforms use NFTs to incentivize participation. In trials, where the effectiveness of financial remuneration to increase trial participation is unclear, NFTs could encourage involvement. Considering the increasing opportunities for blockchain technology and NFT use in both the economy and society, we present a pilot study protocol to gauge the interest and feasibility of using NFTs as payment for trial participants, the first of its kind to our knowledge. Additionally, as the global population ages and chronic diseases become more prevalent, innovative solutions to sustain engagement in longevity-focused interventions are needed. Harnessing CURATE.AI, an indication-agnostic artificial intelligence (AI) platform that modulates the intensity of interventions to generate truly personalized profiles - or digital avatars, we will develop N-of-1 learning trajectory profiles for fifteen healthy volunteers trained on the CURATE.DTx, a digital therapeutic (DTx) platform. The profiles will be artistically modified and minted for the participants in the Ethereum blockchain, whereafter the recipient can choose to keep, display, or trade their NFT. Through interviews, we will evaluate the interest and acceptability of NFTs as an incentive for trial participation. This pioneering exploration connects AI-driven personalized medicine with inventive blockchain solutions. Our research aims to advance the field of digital therapeutics and pave the way for novel approaches to patient-centered care and incentivization strategies in clinical trials.