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OpenSourceMalaria:FAQ: Difference between revisions
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{{OpenSourceMalaria}} | {{OpenSourceMalaria}} | ||
==About== | |||
'''What is Open Source Malaria?'''<br> | '''What is Open Source Malaria?'''<br> | ||
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2) Anyone may take part<br> | 2) Anyone may take part<br> | ||
3) There are no patents<br> | 3) There are no patents<br> | ||
'''What diseases are you targeting?'''<br> | |||
We (you and us now that you're reading this) are currently targeting malaria. There is another branch called Open Source TB (coming soon). | |||
'''Are you only doing tropical diseases?'''<br> | |||
The focus is on malaria and there's a separate space for TB (coming soon), because there is more obvious market failure there (little ''profit''). But maybe we should all try this in other areas where the failure is based on ''risk'' - like cancer and Alzheimer’s. This more general idea, open source pharma, is just now gaining momentum, but the underlying ideas of radical openness for global health are the same. | |||
'''Who is it?'''<br> | '''Who is it?'''<br> | ||
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There is a project called Open Source Drug Discovery in India, but this works in a slightly different way. Eventually everything will probably unify, but Open Source Malaria is not associated with a particular geographical area or group. If you operate according to the rules above, you can say you're part of it. If you don't, you can't. | There is a project called Open Source Drug Discovery in India, but this works in a slightly different way. Eventually everything will probably unify, but Open Source Malaria is not associated with a particular geographical area or group. If you operate according to the rules above, you can say you're part of it. If you don't, you can't. | ||
==What Can I Do?== | |||
'''What can I do?'''<br> | '''What can I do?'''<br> | ||
Anything you like. You can contribute to existing projects or you can start one of your own. Most of the work needed is experimental chemistry and biology. There's a lot of informatics needed. There's also writing, data management, publicity, web design and mentorship - all crucial. | Anything you like. You can contribute to existing projects or you can start one of your own. Most of the work needed is experimental chemistry and biology. There's a lot of informatics needed. There's also writing, data management, publicity, web design and mentorship - all crucial. | ||
'''How about getting students involved?'''<br> | '''How about getting students involved?'''<br> | ||
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'''I used to work on a project that has kind of died'''<br> | '''I used to work on a project that has kind of died'''<br> | ||
Perfect - making it open is the way to keep it alive! Post data, project status, and highlight what you'd do next. You might find someone wants to work with you. Open Source Malaria is intended to act as a repository of projects. | Perfect - making it open is the way to keep it alive! Post data, project status, and highlight what you'd do next. You might find someone wants to work with you. Open Source Malaria is intended to act as a repository of projects. | ||
'''Can I be anonymous?'''<br> | |||
Definitely. It helps if you can do this as a named individual, so you can bring your reputation with you. It helps if you can bring your organization with your name, but it’s not essential. | |||
==How Does It Work?== | |||
'''Do I need to sign up?'''<br> | '''Do I need to sign up?'''<br> | ||
Not really. The lab books can be used with a Google or OpenID login (there’s a guide on how to post things). The social media platforms can be used with your existing accounts. To add to the wiki you’d need a login, yes, but it’s very easy. To use the very useful To Do list (i.e. to post stuff that needs doing, or contribute there) you’ll need to sign up for Github, but that’s very easy and non-spammy. There’s a little guide for that too. | Not really. The lab books can be used with a Google or OpenID login (there’s a guide on how to post things). The social media platforms can be used with your existing accounts. To add to the wiki you’d need a login, yes, but it’s very easy. To use the very useful To Do list (i.e. to post stuff that needs doing, or contribute there) you’ll need to sign up for Github, but that’s very easy and non-spammy. There’s a little guide for that too. | ||
'''I | '''Will you spam me with email?'''<br> | ||
No. It’s really not that kind of a thing. | |||
'''I feel dumb asking this but…'''<br> | |||
Don’t. Just ask away. If you think that something’s missing from this page, you can add it yourself, below. | |||
'''There’s too much stuff here - I don’t understand.'''<br> | |||
It can look difficult before you dive in. Start with the project status. Browse the latest posts. Look at the To Do list. If you’re still not sure, ask a question. | |||
==Money== | |||
''' | '''Who pays for all this?'''<br> | ||
Open source drug discovery and development is not free. Money (cash or in-kind) is needed for some things, such as experiments, labs, chemicals. At the moment this is coming from governments, NGOs and companies. Contributions can be of various sorts - universities have supported students contributing to these projects, for example. Companies have contributed experimental resources and peoples’ time, such as running an assay. Many people have given time in order to solve scientific problems and be named on publications, such as consultants who guide the science. It’s not free, but it’s about as efficient with resources as it’s possible to get because there’s no duplication of effort, people don’t need to travel, and people are only part of the project when they contribute. | |||
''' | '''Do I need to pay anything?'''<br> | ||
No. | |||
'''If we release everything we’re doing, how can we patent things?'''<br> | '''If we release everything we’re doing, how can we patent things?'''<br> | ||
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'''Are you Communists?'''<br> | '''Are you Communists?'''<br> | ||
No. Open source works by an open arena where anyone can do anything and the best contributions will tend to survive. It’s ''meritocratic'' - the people who do the most or the best work end up leading the project. Open source means you can compete and cooperate at the same time. | No. Open source works by an open arena where anyone can do anything and the best contributions will tend to survive. It’s ''meritocratic'' - the people who do the most or the best work end up leading the project. Open source means you can compete and cooperate at the same time. | ||
==Openness== | |||
'''I love open innovation!'''<br> | |||
That’s great. But that’s different. In open source you agree to share everything with everyone as you’re doing it. In open innovation you can work in small teams and keep secrets. These are not compatible. | |||
'''I love open access!'''<br> | |||
That’s great. Being able to read papers is important. Open source is different, though, and is about how we do the research in the first place, not about how we read the papers that come out of it. | |||
==First Steps== | |||
'''OK, awesome. Tell me what I can do to help.'''<br> | '''OK, awesome. Tell me what I can do to help.'''<br> | ||
