At the Lions Eye Institute, research excellence is not just about groundbreaking scientific discovery, but also about ensuring that research is relevant, meaningful, and beneficial to the communities it aims to serve.
One of the ways we achieve this is through active Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI). This commitment ensures our research remains grounded in real-world needs and priorities.
A cornerstone of this approach is the involvement of individuals with lived experience of eye conditions and vision loss. Their insights shape everything from research priorities to study design, ensuring that the outcomes of research reflect the needs of the people it aims to help.
Currently, the Lions Eye Institute supports approximately 18 CCI groups and activities. Some research programs have multiple groups tailored to specific areas of study, such as inherited retinal diseases or myopia. This flexible, project-based model allows researchers to engage directly with the communities that are most affected by their work, ensuring research aligns with patient-driven goals.
Through this approach, the Lions Eye Institute demonstrates its ongoing commitment to not only advancing science but also fostering a research environment that listens, engages, and responds to the needs of those who matter most, our patients.
Getting involved
Are you a consumer that would like to be involved in a research CCI group? Register your interest by reading the information available and contacting us here.
Case study
Dr Danuta Sampson
Dr Danuta Sampson leads a consumer and community involvement (CCI) group for her research into precision mapping of retinal microvasculature and early detection of diabetic eye disease. One of the community participants in this group, Tim, said he wanted to get involved as he hopes the research will improve the early detection of diabetic retinopathy.
“I am inspired by the dedication of Dr Sampson and the team of researchers and I hope my involvement can help make a difference to prevent people going blind from diabetic retinopathy,” Tim said.
