The Research Ethics Association (REA) brings together academia, industry and local organisations across all disciplines with the aim of opening up and applying cross-discipline research ethics, contributing to ethical practice and research. REA is led by a team of people across the South West of England and Wales consisting of academics, doctoral researchers, professional services and local and national organisations. 

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Originally established as a conference, the REA was founded in 2020 by a team of volunteer academics from the South-West and Wales. The initiative was born out of the need to institutionalise an interdisciplinary response to ethical practice, beyond micro responses in the form of university committees and industry protocols. The REC2021 conference, which took place Online, was a massive success hosting over 400 attendees from across 53 countries worldwide. The interest academic, industry workers and government organisations showed in taking part in this conversation heightened us on the urgency of continuing this project on a biannual basis, establishing ourselves as an association (processes still in place). We want to encourage academics, industry staff and government employees to be part of the conversation, innovating, exploring and breaking down boundaries that surround and stiffen our perception of ethics, ethical research, and ethical practice.