Page 187 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The RCD Grant Portfolio has continued to increase strengthening capacity of the next generation of
the number of beneficiaries supported, with 88 researchers and the production of new knowledge.
in 2024/25 compared to 85 in 2023/24 and 74 in The number of postdoctoral fellowship and early
2022/23. investigator programme awards constituted 53%
of all RCD Grant awards with 46% of the budget for
During the 2024/25 financial year, the RCD Grant
Portfolio ran four requests for application with an RCD Grant programmes supporting the priority to
overall intake of 26 new beneficiaries in addition to 8 grow the research capacity development pipeline. In
awards to support staff at historically disadvantaged 2024/45 after two years of their awards, 4 postdoctoral
universities (SMU, WSU and UFH) studying for a fellows based at historically disadvantaged
PhD under the SA-UK DHET Doctoral Training institutions (including 3 RCDI-Nested Postdoctoral
Programme. After a successful pilot, the SAMRC programme and 1 Extramural postdoctoral fellows)
Early Investigators Programme and SAMRC secured permanent employment as senior scientists
Extramural Postdoctoral Programme enrolled their and lecturers while another two attracted research
second intake. opportunities in the USA.

There has been a continued focus on transformation It is also important to highlight that the impact of
including capacity building in HDIs and other RCD career support extends beyond the lifetime of
under-resourced institutions, with 57% of all RCD the award. Former and current RCD beneficiaries
grant awards being hosted by HDIs and other are generally successful at raising research funding
under-resourced institutions. During 2024/25, the as well as obtaining employment and recognition
RCD Grant/Career Award programmes showed an in their specific field. This is mostly the case with
increase in the number of postdoctoral fellowship the mid-career scientist and early investigators. All
and early investigator awards in the extra- and 13 Early Investigators Programme awardees of the
intra-mural research units with 18% and 11% of RCD first intake who recently completed their funding
Grants awards being hosted by SAMRC intramural programme were able to obtain a promotion within
and extramural research units, respectively.
three years of participating in the programmes.
Overall, 67% of the Grant beneficiaries in 2024/25 Amongst them, those who had no permanent
were female, while 86% were black and 68% were positions were able to secure permanent or long-
African black. The priority research areas funded term contracts. The beneficiaries in the Mid-Career
include, inter alia, HIV, TB and other infectious Scientist Programme continue to show significant
diseases, non-communicable diseases, COVID-19, career growth. In November 2024, Prof Jason Bantjies
health systems, public health, maternal and child was appointed Unit Director at the Mental Health,
health, and biomedical research. Alcohol, Substance Use and Tobacco Research
Unit (MAST RU). Prof Phaswana was appointed as
RCD Grants programmes account for around 59% Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation at
of the RCD budget, with more than 51% of grant the University of Johannesburg in January 2025. In
holders being hosted by previously disadvantaged
institutions, including the University of Fort Hare, March 2025, Associate Prof Jackson Marakalala was
University of Zululand, University of Limpopo, appointed Unit Director of the SAMRC Centre for
University of Venda, Mangosuthu University of Tuberculosis Research (CTR).
Technology, Walter Sisulu University, Sefako
Makgatho Health Sciences University, and the SAMRC-Funded Mid-Career Scientists
University of the Western Cape. showcasing excellence and impact
Recently RCD Grant holders won SAMRC Scientific
Impact of RCD Grant Funding Merit Awards, showcasing their expertise and
In 2024/25 RCD Grant beneficiaries contributed national competitiveness. It is worth noting
a significant amount of papers compared to the that Professor Zilungile Mkhize-Kwitshana, a
2023/24 reporting period. The total number of beneficiary under the Mid-Career Scientist
students who worked on the funded projects was Programme, received the Research Capacity
209 which constitutes an increase from 186 in Development and Transformation Award for her
2023/24, with 67% of these being female. This substantial contributions to capacity building and
supports the continued RCD commitment to transformation in health research in South Africa.

SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2024-25 185