Page 12 - SAMRC AnnualReport 2025-26

This was followed by finalisation of commitments resources, and infrastructure aligned with South
of R100 million each from Gates and Wellcome Africa’s national health priorities. Funded projects
Trust and a further commitment from the ELMA cover a broad range of thematic areas, including
Foundation of R14.4 million to co-fund projects with HIV (40%), tuberculosis (30%), newborn and child
particular emphasis on maternal and child health. health (11%), non-communicable diseases (8%), other

To implement this support, in July 2025, the SAMRC infectious diseases and other thematic areas (11%).
issued a Request for Applications (SAMRC-RFA- A notable proportion of projects were part of
GIPD-04-2025), inviting eligible institutions and global collaborative networks and/or functioned
researchers affected by the situation to apply for as institutional, national, or international research
funding. The NHRE RFA focused on research in
infectious diseases, including HIV and tuberculosis, platforms. NHRE funding ensured that the majority of
non-communicable diseases, maternal and child networked projects and/or platform-based projects
health, and other areas that are part of South could continue without interruption, reinforcing
Africa’s national health priorities. The programme’s the programme’s role in sustaining critical research
main objectives were to sustain and ensure the partnerships.
continuation of important research activities; The programme is also contributing substantially
provide temporary support to research groups as
they seek alternative funding; support early- and to research capacity building. It is supporting early-
mid-career scientists; enable postgraduate students and mid-career scientists, as well as postgraduate
and postdoctoral fellows to complete their training; and postdoctoral trainees, enabling continued
support the ethical closure of interventional studies training and career development. Specifically, early-
through appropriate participant follow-up; and career scientists, mid-career scientists, master’s
maintain vital health research infrastructure. students, and PhD students are benefiting from the
programme’s support. Furthermore, the funding has
In total, 102 applications were received from the first ensured that research involving human participants
RFA, of which 87 were approved for funding; 28 were could proceed, with continuing studies and/or
subsequently withdrawn due to the reinstatement of appropriately completed or ethically closed out,
their grants. A total of 54 grant awards were made, thereby minimising the impact of the funding cuts
totalling approximately R208 million.
on participants.
Following several partial reinstatements of US-
funded projects, the SAMRC launched a second RFA, The NHRE investment also extended to essential
in December 2025. A total of 24 applications were research infrastructure, including data management
received, with an additional 10 proposals approved systems, Information and Communication
for funding. Overall, 64 projects will benefit from this Technology platforms, biobanks, clinical trial units,
funding, with an approximate total of R248 million core facilities, and general maintenance. While
awarded. some projects have received partial reinstatement
or alternative funding, the majority continue to rely
Interim programme impact on NHRE support, underscoring the programme’s
Although still early in implementation, the NHRE critical role in sustaining South Africa’s health
programme has been highly successful in meeting research ecosystem during the funding disruption
its core objectives of salvaging research, human and transition period.

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