Page 14 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

STRATEGIC OVERVIEW

Our mandate Our vision

The mandate of the South African Medical Research Building a healthy nation through research,
Council (SAMRC), in terms of the MRC Act 58, 1991 (as innovation and transformation.
amended), is to improve the health and quality of life
of South Africans. This needs to be realised through
research, development, and technology transfer. Our mission

Who we are To advance the nation’s health and quality
of life and address inequality by conducting
The SAMRC was established in 1969 and is dedicated
to improving the health of people in South Africa, and funding relevant and responsive
through research, innovation, development, and health research, capacity development,
technology transfer. The scope of research includes innovation, and research translation.
laboratory investigations, clinical research, and
public health studies.
Our values
We conduct research on South Africa’s quadruple
burden of disease: maternal, newborn and child
health, HIV/AIDS and TB, non-communicable
diseases, and interpersonal violence. Our work is
to acquire evidence-based information to inform
health policy and practice and improve the quality
and health status of people in South Africa. Pioneering Partnering Excellence

We are the largest local funder of health research,
medical diagnostics, medical devices, and
therapeutics. We are pioneers in cutting edge
medical innovations focusing on genomic research,
the development of novel treatment regimens,
vaccine development, diagnostic tools, and
developing new drugs and devices. Respect Integrity Citizenship
Transformation remains an integral part of building
sustainable health research capacity in South Africa,
through Self-Initiated Research (SIR) grants, the
Mid-Career Scientist programme, the Bongani
Mayosi National Health Scholars Programme, and
other programmes and platforms, the SAMRC will
continue to address gender, racial, institutional, and
geographic parity, and strengthen our capacity to
flourish in the 21st century. As a custodian of health
research, the SAMRC is building a healthy nation
through research and innovation.

12 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24