A research area consortium is a collaborative group of researchers and institutions that come together to work on a specific research topic or area of interest. These consortia typically bring together experts from different disciplines and backgrounds to share resources, knowledge, and expertise in order to advance research in their chosen field. By joining forces, consortium members can pool their resources, access specialized equipment or facilities, and collaborate on larger scale projects that would be difficult to tackle alone. This collaborative approach often leads to more impactful and innovative research results, as well as increased opportunities for funding and publication.