The research landscape continues to evolve. Societal, political, and economic shifts and advancements in technology are redefining the roles of researchers and research ethics committees. The implications of innovation in a rapidly changing world are challenging existing paradigms and uncovering new trails of ethical consideration.

 More than ever before, researchers are being asked to consider the merit, integrity and significance of their research. They must grapple with foundational shifts in public expectation and the rapid erosion of public trust; to communicate with transparency, collaborate meaningfully, and engage responsibly with disruptive technologies. Beyond this, they must demonstrate respect for privacy in an age where global connectivity has exponentially increased the availability of human data whilst simultaneously blurring the lines of consent.

With this, the burden is falling to research ethics committees to become experts at lightspeed, to broaden their knowledge so that they may holistically assess the ethical implications of research within this ever-expanding context. However, the speed of change requires them to step off the beaten track. Instead, they must overlay prevailing ethics guidelines and templates to increasingly complex terrain and provide guide rails for those traversing this terrain.

The AEN conference will provide a forum for exploring the shifting roles of researchers and research ethics committees, and how they can respond effectively to emerging challenges, many of which are evolving in ways not yet understood. Novel research, methods and technology are not going to stop and wait for us to catch up, so join us in Newcastle this November 2025 as we seek to navigate this evolving landscape that leads us ever further into uncharted territories.