Page 46 - SAMRC Annual Performance Plan 2026-27

PART B: SAMRC STRATEGIC FOCUS
continued
Table 10: SAMRC Health Priorities
Research Programmes
Health promotion and disease
prevention
Maternal, child and women’s health To improve the health status and quality of life of women and children
HIV, AIDS, TB, and other communicable
diseases
Health systems strengthening
Public health innovation
Biomedical research
44 SAMRC ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN 2026/27
SAMRC HEALTH PRIORITIES
Strategic Focus
To conduct research using a life course approach to healthy lifestyles, early
diagnosis, and cost-effective prevention and management of diseases
through health promotion.
through high-quality scientific research that informs policy and practice,
improves health services, and promotes health.
To conduct research on preventing HIV and related co-morbidities including
TB and other infectious (communicable) diseases, such as Typhoid and
malaria. In partnership with our funders and regional counterparts, this
programme seeks to contribute to the national and international science
system by funding testing for TB drugs and malaria insecticides, carrying out
the AIDS Vaccine project through coordinating development and testing HIV
vaccines in South Africa.
To contribute to health systems strengthening by undertaking systematic
reviews, health policy and health systems research to provide evidence
for policymakers, stakeholders and researchers seeking to address today’s
most pressing health challenges. The programme aims to take advantage of
information and technology by exploring and expanding the role of eHealth
(health informatics, digital health, tile health, telemedicine, eLearning, and
mobile health) in strengthening health systems.
To promote the improvement of health and quality of life (impact prevention
of ill health and improvement of public health and treatment) in the Republic
of South Africa through innovation, technology development and transfer.
To conduct basic research, applied research, and transactional research to
determine predisposition to disease. This understanding is important for
planning effective intervention and disease control.