Project summary

(FTX Future Fund awarded us $120k for this project, but they went bankrupt before we actually received it.)

Dental cavities cost about $45 billion per year in America alone, disproportionately affecting lower-income persons. BCS3-L1 is a genetically engineered streptococcus mutans bacteria which does not secrete lactic acid, and thereby doesn't cause cavities in teeth. After a single application, this strain persists in the mouth indefinitely, hedging out cavity-causing bacteria. (See our FAQ and safety review at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mDJCTO2QySmQOZQcajYReDCA1MFpKs-EZ5E0VNu50Fo/)

This passed animal trials back in 2003 (under the brand name SMaRT, Streptococcus Mutans associated Replacement Therapy) and tested flawlessly in human volunteers, but the developing company declined to go to market, and instead pivoted to selling once-daily probiotic mouthwash.

Project goals

Eventually, to cure cavities for everyone forever.

How will this funding be used?

BCS3-L1 isn't under patent, but possession remains a significant part of the law. Although I have the blessing of the original inventor Dr. Jeffrey Hillman, he and his former company Oragenics have parted ways, and as far as we can tell, they're the only holders of the organism.

But, there's nothing preventing us from recreating BCS3-L1 ourselves from commercially available precursor bacteria.

What is your (team's) track record on similar projects?

-I spent five years at MIRI as Operations Lead.

-I produce a video game that's #42 in category on Patreon, with an 11-person team, making six-figures with >1,000,000 downloads.

-I run Heist and Geist and Heist: Sunlit Forge; welcometotheheist.com

-I'm nominated for the Nebula for fiction, and was published in Asterisk three days ago under the name Jamie Wahls.

-I run Aella's media empire.

How could this project be actively harmful?

-Well, it certainly isn't great for our Weirdness Points budget.

-Fewer than 15 people have actually had this in their mouths already, and success is not guaranteed. Animal studies do not always translate to human efficacy, regardless how compelling.

What other funding is this person or project getting?

Lantern Bioworks has also applied to Lightspeed Grants for a different phase of this project.