Page 171 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Self-Initiated Research Grants A new request for applications for SIR grants
was issued in July 2024, with a closing date for
The Self-Initiated Research (SIR) programme offers
grants of up to R200,000 per annum for a period of submissions at the end of August 2024. Proposals
were invited in 10 research priority areas: Health
3 years to early and mid-career researchers across Economics and NHI; Brain, Behaviour, and Mental
various health disciplines and priority areas. In the Health; Disease Prevention and Health Promotion;
2024/25 financial year, more than 100 grants were HIV and TB; Maternal, Infant, and Child Health;
included in the SIR portfolio. The distribution of Non-Communicable Diseases; Other Infectious
these grants by ethnic group, gender, and institution Diseases, including Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
is shown in the figures below. The application of a and One Health; Vaccines, Diagnostics, and Drug
transformation matrix has led to a significant year- Discovery (including African Traditional Medicines);
on-year increase in awards to black applicants, with Behavioural Science in relation to the uptake and
the proportion of awards to black applicants rising use of health interventions; and Climate Change,
from 27% in 2012/13 to 89% in 2024/25. Environmental Health, and Occupational Health.
The online Research and Innovation Management
The portfolio is split between early-career scientists System (RIMS) was used for the first time for this
and mid-career to established researchers, with 42% call. Online information sessions with prospective
of the grants awarded to early-career researchers applicants were held prior to the submission date.
and 58% to mid-career and established researchers. Despite applicants’ unfamiliarity with the system, we
The SAMRC has actively worked towards increasing received 253 eligible applications. These applications
the number of grants awarded to early-career are currently being peer-reviewed by national and
researchers, reflecting a significant effort to support international reviewers, and approximately 40-50
the development of emerging scientists. awards will be made for the 2025/26 financial year.

2024/25 SIR Grant Portfolio by Race 2024/25 SIR Grant Portfolio by Gender

10%

13%

44%

54% 56%

23%

African Indian Female
Coloured White Male

SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2024-25 169