Page 154 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

A new request for applications for SIR grants to date. The first cohort of 15 trainees commenced
was issued in May 2023 with a closing date for their training in February 2023 and the second
submissions in June 2023. Proposals were invited cohort of 11 started training in July 2023. Of these,
in the following 12 research priority areas: HIV and around 60% received placements for short-term
TB; other infectious diseases including antimicrobial industry internships. The SAMRC offered internships
resistance; maternal, infant and child health; non- to 4 students from cohort 1 who are now trainers
communicable diseases; brain, behaviour and of cohort 3 in 2024. As part of their training, the
mental health; injury and interpersonal violence; interns were sent to Immunity Bio in Los Angeles
occupational and environmental health; health in November 2023 for advanced training. A third
systems, health economics, Universal Health cohort of 21 initiated their training in February 2024.
Coverage and National Health Insurance; African
traditional medicines; vaccines, diagnostics and
drug discovery; disease prevention and health
promotion; and One Health. Online information
sessions with prospective applicants were held
prior to the submission date and this resulted in a
significant increase in the number of applications
received – 303 in 2023 versus 169 in 2022. The SAMRC
also received fewer incomplete, ineligible and non-
responsive applications. The applications have
been peer-reviewed by national and international
reviewers and approximately 40-50 awards will be
made starting in the 2024/25 financial year.
Other Initiatives

Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation
(CSSFF)-SAMRC Biomanufacturing
Capacity Development Programme
The SAMRC commenced a collaboration with the
Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation (CSSFF)
on a Biomanufacturing Capacity Development
Programme during 2022/23. The collaboration is
funded by a R100 million donation from the CSSFF
and a R12 million contribution from the SAMRC. The
programme currently has 4 components. The first
involves providing technical training to graduates to
equip them to work in a commercial biomanufacturing
environment, including training in laboratory science,
process engineering, quality assurance and scientific
and research processes, such as experimental design
and scientific writing. The training is delivered by
the SAMRC’s Biomedical Research and Innovation
Platform (BRIP) and the Universities of Cape Town
and Stellenbosch. Promising candidates who
complete these studentships are offered industry CSSFF SAMRC Interns and SAMRC
internships or opportunities for postgraduate Trainers Meeting Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong
studies upon completion of their training. The first at ImmunityBio in Los Angeles,
call for studentships was launched in August 2022 November 2023.
and 2 cohorts of students have completed training

152 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24