Page 179 - SAMRC AnnualReport 2025-26

P E R FOR M A NC E I N FOR M A T I ON

The HIV programme has made encouraging or postgraduate study opportunities. Four cohorts
progress towards developing mRNA-based HIV have been trained: 15 in cohort 1, 11 in cohort
vaccine candidates targeting locally identified 2 (2023), 22 in cohort 3 (2024), and 20 in cohort 4
subtype C strains. This programme was being partly (2025). The SAMRC arranged internships for four
funded through the USAID-funded BRILLIANT trainees from cohort 1 who became trainers for
Programme, which was abruptly halted in early 2025 cohort 3, and five trainees in 2024. Many trainees
due to the US funding cuts. Interim funding was have secured placements in industry and academia.
received from the ELMA Relief Fund to continue Industry feedback is positive, highlighting improved
the work and the programme was awarded funding employability skills. The programme duration has
through the SAMRC’s National Health Research been extended to 10 months for longer industry
Enterprise programme to continue the vaccine placements, with more industry partners involved.
development.
The CSIR led an initiative to establish a WHO
The novel ionizable lipid programme focuses on Southern African Biomanufacturing Training
designing and testing new lipid molecules that Centre. In January 2025, a WHO panel visited and
can improve how mRNA material is packaged, engaged with the CSIR and partners, including
protected, and transported into cells. The SAMRC, Biovac, Afrigen, UVU Bio, and UCT CeBER,
Chemistry Department and AGTRU at Wits have about the proposed regional centre in South
developed over 100 novel ionizable lipids from Africa. In August 2025, SAMRC joined a workshop
natural waste products and demonstrated their hosted by CSIR and Africa CDC to explore regional
ability to form stable delivery systems. These novel training priorities, map programmes, and discuss
lipids are currently being optimized to further operationalising the Southern African RCCN.
enhance delivery efficiency while reducing potential
toxicity, and a selection of them are being scaled In 2024, two mechanical engineering graduates
up in a GMP facility for further pre-clinical testing interned at CSIR and were offered jobs afterwards.
to evaluate performance and safety. This SAMVAC Six interns also gained experience at SAHPRA in
programme is an important step toward improving regulatory affairs, quality assurance, and clinical
the cost and effectiveness of mRNA vaccines and evaluation. In 2025, the SAHPRA internships were
treatments and ensuring freedom to operate. reviewed: three funded by SAHPRA and three by
CSSFF-SAMRC. Two CSSFF-SAMRC interns were
National Health Research subsequently employed by SAHPRA.
Enterprise (NHRE) Programme
A major new programme initiated in 2026 in
response to the US funding cuts was the National
Health Research Enterprise (NHRE) Programme.
This was made possible through funding raised by
the SAMRC President, with support from the NDOH,
from National Treasury, the Gates Foundation,
Wellcome Trust and the ELMA Foundation. A total
of 64 awards have been made to salvage projects
and platforms affected by the US funding cuts in
2025 – see Part A for further details.

Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation
(CSSFF)-SAMRC Biomanufacturing
Capacity Development Programme
This programme supports studentships, internships,
and scholarships to develop a workforce for vaccine
development and manufacturing. Studentships
train graduates in laboratory science, process SAHPRA interns appointed through the
engineering, quality assurance, and research CSSFF-SAMRC Biomanufacturing Capacity
Development Programme.
skills, delivered by SAMRC’s BRIP, UCT, and SU.
Promising candidates receive industry internships

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