Page 49 - SAMRC Annual Performance Plan 2026-27

Table 12: SAMRC intramural research units’ purpose

INTRAMURAL RESEARCH UNITS
Unit Strategic Focus

Biostatistics Research Unit To advance the health of the nation through the application, development and
promotion of statistical methods in the clinical and health research conducted by
the SAMRC and its stakeholders.
Burden of Disease Research To assess and monitor the country’s health status and determinants of disease
Unit as well as to project the future burden of disease, in order to provide planning
information to improve the health of the nation and to evaluate health information
systems.
Centre for TB Research Unit To run a portfolio of world class TB research ranging from basic to applied where
projects are either laboratory and/or clinic based, using selected individuals or local
populations as a source of data. In collaboration with national and international
collaborators, areas of interest include bacteriology, immunology, genetics,
bioinformatics, and clinical trials.
Cochrane South Africa To prepare and maintain Cochrane, Systematic and Scoping Reviews of the effects
of of healthcare interventions for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, as well as
diagnostic test accuracy, and to promote access to and the use of best evidence in
healthcare decision making. within Africa.
Environment and Health To conduct population-based research on environmental risks to health, with special
Research Unit emphasis on those living in poverty.
Gender and Health Research To improve the health status and quality of life of women through high quality
Unit scientific research on gender and health that informs the development of policy,
health services and health promotion.
Health Systems Research Unit To conduct health systems research to develop health systems, improve the
organisation, efficiency, effectiveness of health systems, and increase the impact of
health systems on population health and well-being. It is also to understand and
evaluate how health systems function and how they can be strengthened, including
how to develop and implement policies and programmes in ways that strengthen
rather than undermine health systems.
HIV and other Infectious To address the challenges of the South African HIV epidemic and associated
Diseases Research Unit co- morbidities, as well as other infectious diseases through a combination
of biomedical, epidemiological and behavioural prevention, therapeutic and
implementation science research agenda.
Mental Health, Alcohol, To generate knowledge and propose policy and other interventions that will lead
Substance Use and Tobacco to a reduction in alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and the associated burden
Research Unit experienced by individuals and society. It also researches evidence-based solutions
towards advancing child, adolescent and adult mental health care.
Non-communicable Diseases To formulate and apply an integrated programme of research and capacity
Research Unit development to improve the prevention, understanding, detection and
management of NCDs, with a major focus on cardiometabolic disease, chronic
kidney disease and food security in South Africa and beyond.

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