Our Vision
The i3eye Consortium is positioned to uncover both common immune-mediated pathways and disease-specific mechanisms, mapping shared genetic risk loci across ocular and systemic diseases. Through collaborative efforts, we identify unique genetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic signatures for specific phenotypes (e.g. infectious vs. non-infectious uveitis), and support endophenotype-based analyses (e.g. severe vision loss, steroid dependency, bilateral involvement).
Why We Exist: The i3eye Rationale
- Inflammatory eye diseases are rare, heterogeneous, and underpowered for genetics
- Uveitis, optic neuritis, and scleritis are globally significant causes of vision loss
- Yet their genetic underpinnings remain poorly understood due to heterogeneity and rarity
- Single-centre cohorts miss modest-effect variants
- Individual Consortium members may have relatively small cohorts
- Large sample sizes are essential for robust genetic discovery
- Biobank limitations
- ICD codes lack phenotypic precision
- Intermediate and posterior uveitis infrequent in biobanks
- Need for global scale + diversity
- Detect genetic risk across populations
- Understand shared immune pathways (e.g. MS, sarcoidosis)
- Enable precision medicine and trial stratification
- Reduce European ancestry bias in genomic research
Core Principles
🤝 Trust & Respect
This Consortium is built on mutual trust among members. Participation in collaborations is contingent on affirming this fundamental basis.
📋 Confidentiality
Findings generated by collaborative efforts are not to be used in grant applications or papers without prior consent of scientists involved.
💬 Open Communication
All decisions and activities are conducted transparently through frequent in-person, virtual, or email communication among members.
⏰ Timeliness
Commitment to adhere to reasonable timelines in data sharing, reviewing analytic plans, and publishing papers.
📚 Priority & Recognition
Research groups that make discoveries using Consortium resources have first right to publish; others cannot publish separately on that finding.
🎓 Supporting Next Generation
Emphasis on training students and early career researchers with opportunities for first-author publications and research leadership.
Led jointly by King's College London & University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
The i3eye Consortium is led jointly by King's College London and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The Consortium is co-led by Dr. Tasanee Braithwaite and Dr. Lynn Hassman, who share equal leadership responsibilities and oversight for consortium activities.
Co-Leads: Dr. Tasanee Braithwaite (tasanee.braithwaite@kcl.ac.uk) and Dr. Lynn Hassman (lynn.hassman@cuanschutz.edu)