Data Harmonization, Standardization, and Collaboration for Diabetic Retinal Disease (DRD) Research: Report From the 2024 Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative (MTM Vision) Workshop on Data

The report, “Data Harmonization, Standardization, and Collaboration for Diabetic Retinal Disease (DRD) Research: Report From the 2024 Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative (MTM Vision) Workshop on Data,” was recently published by TVST, an ARVO Journal. The “Workshop on Data” discussed best practices and specific considerations for building a comprehensive, shareable MTM Vision data lake by standardizing and harmonizing clinical data and ocular omics analyses. Standardization of data collection, common data elements, and data interoperability were emphasized alongside federated learning approaches to promote data sharing and collaboration while maintaining data privacy and security. Integrating molecular data with other multimodal data types was recognized as a promising strategy for leveraging machine learning, and AI approaches to advance therapeutics development and improve treatment outcomes for DRD patients. Partnerships with the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, foundations, and industry were deemed vital for successfully implementing these initiatives. The report was led by Amitha Domalpally, MD, PhD, with contributors including Ward Fickweiler, MD; S. Robert Levine, MD; Kerry E. Goetz; PhDc; Brian L. VanderBeek; MD, MPH, MSCE; Aaron Lee, MD; Jeffrey M. Sundstrom, MD, PhD; Dorene Markel, MS, MHSA; Jennifer K. Sun, MD, MPH.