Page 4 - Advancing Life 2023

Unlocking Population
Health Insights:
The South African Population
Research Infrastructure Network
A remarkable initiative is quietly
transforming the way we
understand population health
and well-being in communities
across the country.
OPEN SCIENCE
FOR ACCELERATING SUSTAINABLE HEALTH
RESEARCH, COLLABORATION, AND PARTNERSHIPS
Building capacity for the
next generation of
health scientists
Over the years the SAMRC’s
Division of Research Capacity
Development (RCD) has
provided funding for over 400
early to mid-career researchers
and postgraduate students,
mainly PhDs at universities and
research institutions with a
particular focus on historically
disadvantaged individuals as
well as institutions previously
constrained by inadequate
access to resources.
The South African Population Research of the most comprehensive population health
Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN) is a research networks in the country.
groundbreaking initiative with a vision to improve
public health by gathering critical data, facilitating The network’s operations are strategically
distributed across six research nodes, three of
research, and creating positive impacts in which are situated in urban areas, and three
local communities. SAPRIN is funded by the
Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and in rural regions. They enable the exploration
hosted by the SAMRC. of various factors, such as health disparities,
migration patterns, mortality and morbidity
SAPRIN’s extensive reach spans the entire trends, and access to healthcare services within
South African landscape, positioning it as one these diverse communities.
Impacting Communities: A Closer Look
encourages healthy behaviours, and fosters a
Through its collaborations with healthcare
providers, SAPRIN helps identify gaps in sense of ownership over public health initiatives.
healthcare access and service delivery.
SAPRIN aims to transform health outcomes and
strengthen the well-being of all who live in South
SAPRIN’s commitment to community engagement
ensures that residents have a say in the decisions Africa, one community at a time.
that affect their health. This approach empowers Visit the SAPRIN website at www.Saprin.mrc.
RCD BENEFICIARY
communities to take charge of their well-being, ac.za to find out more
CONFERENCE
THEME: OPEN SCIENCE FOR ACCELERATING SUSTAINABLE
The funding includes research grants for behalf of the National Department of Health,
researchers, fellowships for postdoctoral National Health Research Committee, and 22
HEALTH RESEARCH, COLLABORATION, AND PARTNERSHIP
private companies, through a vehicle called
fellows, scholarships for PhD and Master’s
students, and staff development grants the joint Public Health Enhancement fund
for academic staff members to attain their (PHEF) to fund the scholarships in the Bongani
Keynote Speakers
PhD’s. This remains a top priority towards Mayosi National Health Scholars Programme.
For funding opportunities please visit: https://
strengthening capacity development with the
aim to attain health research transformation www.samrc.ac.za/funding/request-for-
and equity. RCD also manages funding on applications
Dr Caradee Wright
Dr Tshiamo Motshegwa
Director: Chief Specialist Scientist:
Environment and Health Research Unit, South African
African Open Science Platform (AOSP), Strategy, Planning
Research Grants Portfolio (Dr Frederic Nduhirabandi: Frederic.Nduhirabandi@mrc.ac.za)
Medical Research Council
and Partnerships (SPP), National Research Foundation
Scholarships Portfolio (Dr Lindokuhle Ndlandla: Lindokuhle.Ndlandla@mrc.ac.za)
Open Science for Accelerating Sustainable Health Public Health and Climate Change
Research, Collaboration, And Partnership
Contributors: Research Capacity Development Division (abeda.dawood@mrc.ac.za)
Masterclass topics
Date and time
20 and 21 November 2023
Intersection of AI and Health Science
Venue
Navigating your career as a researcher: How to
establish networks for work opportunities, mentorship,
collaborations, funding, and fellowships Virtually (MS Teams) SAMRC Conference Centre
For further information or queries please
Behind the scenes of health and clinical research: contact Lesedi Morare lesedi.morare@mrc.ac.za
Exploring key challenges faced by researchers and
how to overcome them. or 021 938 0448
Research Capacity Development:
The Career Lounge: Beyond PhD, where to from here?
Building capacity for the
Developing a growth mind-set for work-life balance long-term sustainability of the
South African health research.