Grammy-nominated Aloe Blacc calls for open data sharing across funders and corporations at the Frontiers Science House

Speaking on 22 January at the “Novel approaches to accelerate cancer precision therapeutics—on both sides of the leash” discussion at the Frontiers Science House, the multi-platinum singer and songwriter Aloe Blacc challenged corporations and funders to open up their data to help accelerate science and its benefits.  

In conversation with Christina Lopes, Co-founder & CEO, FidoCure; and Randall Lane, Chief Content Officer, Forbes; Aloe Blacc –  who is also the founder of Pepto-ID, a biotech company with a drug development platform focused on cancer treatment – commented on the importance of open data in an AI age:  

“Is there a way we can ingest data into AI and make it anonymous, so it doesn’t cannibalize commercial profit, but allows us to improve research? We need to share data across research projects, in a way that advances and supports the progress of others.” 

Before going on to highlight how closed data held by both universities and startups  – including data on experimental failures – hinders progress and profit: 

“Universities and startups have data that doesn't get shared. We need to ask funders, and all corporations and drug companies where the research didn’t work out if we can get their data, and put it into a consortia and mine it so we all learn from it. Progress doesn't only come from success, failures are also learning opportunities.” 

Projects already utilizing and sharing open data include Frontiers FAIR2 Data Management and the YCharOs and Only Good Antibodies.