no paying a scientist is OBVIOUSLY a bad idea on all levels.
However, if you guys really want to change things, you can create a fund that will collect as much money as a prize for the "cure". I bet balding people could collect millions of dollars for that, and that provides HIGH incentives.
Hypothetically what you would do is the following: Create a fund, where your contribution is kept under your name, and can be withdrawn at any point in time before the vote. Yes the vote: when something comes out and passes the trials, people who had "shares" in this fund will VOTE whether this is the drug they have been waiting for.
Anyway, I just know this thing will never be implemented, however, I am sure if it was it will speed up things a bit. Imagine a 10 millions dollar prize
, that is... in addition to whetever they get from patent (which is more risky)