Page 163 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Impact of RCD Scholarship Funding The RCD Grants portfolio has continued to increase
the total number of beneficiaries supported, with
One of the ways we assess the impact of the SAMRC
scholarships on individual recipients is to look at their 82 in 2023/24 compared to 74 in 2022/23, 72 in
career progression, research outputs, and research 2021/22, and 51 in 2020/21. During the financial
awards. During this reporting period, two emerging year, the RCD Grant Portfolio ran four requests
researchers Dr Thendo Makhado, a junior lecturer for applications with an overall intake of 13 new
in nursing at the University of Venda funded under beneficiaries. There has been a renewed focus on
the SAMRC Researcher Development Programme, transformation and capacity building in HDIs and
and Ms Ramakgahlela Betty Sebati, a PhD student other under-resourced institutions, with 60% of all
funded under the SAMRC Internship Scholarship RCD grant awards being hosted by HDIs and other
Programme, received the 2023 DSI-Ndoni Mcunu under-resourced institutions and 15% by SAMRC
Fellowships: Doctoral Awards category at the South intramural research units. Overall, 63% of the RCD
African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA) under Grant beneficiaries in 2023/24 were female, 89%
the emerging researcher category. Additionally, Ms were black, and 66% were African black. The priority
Ramakgahlela and Dr Lerato Rametse funded under research areas funded include, inter alia, HIV, TB
the Clinician Researcher Development Programme and other infectious diseases, non-communicable
were among 635 young scientists from around the diseases, COVID-19, health systems, public
world selected to attend the 72nd Lindau Nobel health, maternal and child health and biomedical
Laureates. The two were amongst only nine South research. RCD Grants programmes have more than
African young scientists who had the privilege of 55% of grant holders being hosted by previously
attending. Additionally, Dr Rametse was one of only 40 disadvantaged institutions, including the University
young scientists selected to present their research in of Fort Hare, University of Zululand, University
the Next Generation Sessions. Ms Phindile Ngobese, of Limpopo, University of Venda, Mangosuthu
a PhD student funded under the Bongani Mayosi University of Technology, Walter Sisulu University,
National Health Scholars Programme presented her Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, and
PhD research at the Society for Research in Nicotine the University of the Western Cape.
and Tobacco (SRNT) annual meeting 2024 which was
held in Edinburgh, Scotland. These achievements Impact of RCD Grant Funding
are testament to the world-class research conducted The RCD grant beneficiaries' publications increased
by RCD-funded scholars and that the SAMRC is in 2023/24 as compared to 2022/23. The total
developing global leaders of tomorrow. number of students who worked on the funded
projects was 186, with 143 of these being female.
The success of the SAMRC scholarship programmes This demonstrates how the RCD grant programmes
is also reflected in the investments received. During are developing the next generation of researchers
this reporting period RCD received R10 million who are leading the generation of new knowledge.
(including VAT) from the Public Health Enhancement The number of postdoctoral fellowship and early
Fund (PHEF) for the BM-NHSP programme, the investigator programme awards constituted 50%
most prestigious and nationally competitive health of all RCD grant awards, supporting the priority to
science scholarship programme. Since its inception, grow the research capacity development pipeline.
the BM-NHSP has awarded funding to 170 scholars
of which 108 scholars (96 PhD and 12 MSc) have The impact of RCD career support extends beyond
graduated to date. The latest cohort of scholars the lifetime of the award. Former and current RCD
comprises 6 PhD candidates, all registered in HDIs. beneficiaries are generally successful at raising
research funding and obtaining employment, and
RCD Grant Portfolio recognition in their specific field – as in the case of
The purpose of the RCD grant programmes is to Associate Professor Shahida Moosa and Dr Jacqueline
create an opportunity to fast-track and transition Womersley. Both are beneficiaries of the SAMRC’s Early
early- and mid-career scientists to independent Investigators Programme. With her recent research in
research leaders. The distribution of grants/career rare disease, Prof Moosa earned recognition in South
awards by gender, ethnic group, and institution for Africa and on the global stage with the John M. Opitz
2023/24 are depicted in the figure below. Young Investigator Award from the American Journal

SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24 161