LAUSR

The rapid expansion of social media has broadened the number of crowdfunding platforms available today. This phenomenon should be seen in the context of a long tradition of appealing to the public for financial support. Modern crowdfunding initiatives have developed into a significant source of funding, garnering an estimated US $5 billion annually, with proceeds projected to expand to an annual $100 billion by 2020 [1]. Websites such as Kickstarter.com allow users to pool the resources of many contributors, funding predefined initiatives [2] with incentives ranging from merchandise or symbolic gifts, to acknowledgement of project contribution [1]. Furthermore, there has been an interest in research-specific platforms to act as an adjunct to or replacement of traditional funding sources [3]. Entities such as Experiment.com offer a platform to seek crowdfunding support ranging from basic science initiatives [3] to clinical trials. A recent systematic search identified 20 clinical trials funded via crowdfunding, with eight out of 13 completed campaigns reaching their funding goals, the largest funding allocation reaching a total of $3 113 000 [4], underscoring the financial implications of crowdfunding. Crowdfunding is a novel mechanism of public involvement that has profound implications on respiratory research http://ow.ly/2CsV30eEiVi