Page 171 - SAMRC AnnualReport 2025-26
P. 171
P E R FOR M A NC E I N FOR M A T I ON
research addressing the health impacts of DataBridge360° strengthens public health systems
climate change. An important highlight from the by improving access to validated information,
portfolio is the completion of a project led by enabling policymakers, healthcare workers, and
Dr M Sibanda (African Applied Chemical), whose communities to respond more effectively to
goal was the design and development of a next- misinformation and emerging health challenges.
generation mosquito net to address insecticide- › Artificial Intelligence in Global Health: The Grand
resistant mosquitoes. The net was successfully
manufactured and demonstrated to be effective Challenges network partners released a request
against insecticide resistant mosquitoes under for applications to fund locally led innovations that
laboratory conditions, passing the standard harness large language models (LLMs) to address
mortality rate of more than 85% for each section of pressing health challenges in South Africa and
the net. The net also passed the wash resistance other low- and middle-income countries. Through
test, meeting the WHO cone bioassays criteria this initiative, the partners aimed to promote
with greater than 80% mortality achieved after responsible, equitable, and community-informed
20 washes. The team also discovered that the AI solutions that strengthen health systems,
net could be reloaded with the insecticide once support frontline health workers, and improve
depleted, making the nets reusable and thus patient communication. The SAMRC supported 11
reducing environmental impact and potentially projects from this RFA. A notable success story is
improving affordability. the MzansiMed project, led by Prof Mariam Parker
at the University of the Western Cape. The project
developed a specialised AI language model
and functional prototype application capable of
translating medicine instructions into multiple
South African languages in real time. The tool
demonstrated strong translation accuracy and
contextual relevance during preliminary testing
and simulated dispensary trials, outperforming
general-purpose language models in handling
complex medical terminology. By enabling
healthcare providers to communicate treatment
instructions clearly in patients’ preferred languages,
the innovation has strong potential to improve
medication adherence, patient understanding,
and equitable access to healthcare. It is especially
important to note that the team demonstrated
Sample prototype of the AAC dual insecticide that the solution can be easily integrated into
net (courtesy of Dr M Sibanda). the existing computer systems currently used by
pharmacies in the public sector, thus significantly
improving its potential for adoption and scale-up.
› Infodemics/Public Health Information Systems: › Grand Challenges African Drug Discovery
Funded with a grant received from the Gates Accelerator (GC ADDA): Through its Grand
Foundation, this portfolio aimed to strengthen Challenges South Africa programme, the SAMRC
the use of research evidence, surveillance data, has committed R6 million to strengthen early-stage
and communication tools to support public health drug discovery at North-West University, focusing
decision-making and address misinformation. on antimicrobial resistance and toxicology
A key highlight was the completion and launch capability. Both projects are led by emerging
of DataBridge360°, a digital platform designed African female scientists, promoting gender equity
to make trusted HIV and TB information and African leadership in research. The investment
accessible, actionable, and user-friendly. The augments South Africa’s position as a continental
platform integrates real-time dashboards, hub for translational drug discovery, builds
public sentiment monitoring, and geospatial sustainable research capacity, and expands the
mapping to identify emerging misinformation SAMRC’s footprint beyond the major metropolitan
and support more informed decision-making. centres.
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