Page 195 - SAMRC AnnualReport 2025-26

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

the grant holders being hosted by historically SAMRC-Mid Career
disadvantaged and under-resourced institutions. Scientist Programme
These include the University of Fort Hare, University
of Zululand, University of Limpopo, University of Grant-holders Honoured
Venda, Mangosuthu University of Technology, at 2025 SAWISA Awards
Walter Sisulu University, Sefako Makgatho Health The SAMRC’s Mid-Career Scientist Programme has
Sciences University, the University of the Western once again demonstrated its vital role in fostering
Cape, Tshwane University of Technology, and scientific excellence, with two of its beneficiaries
Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Similar to receiving top honours at the 2025 South African
previous years, during 2025/2026, the RCD Grant/ Women in Science Awards (SAWISA). Hosted
Career Award programmes showed an increase in annually by the Department of Science, Technology
the number of postdoctoral fellowships awards in and Innovation (DSTI), the SAWISA awards
the extramural research units from 10 to 16 awards recognise the contributions of women to science,
(60% increase). innovation, and public engagement in South Africa.
Overall, 62% of the Grant beneficiaries in 2025/2026 Professor Zilungile Mkhize-Kwitshana and Professor
were female, while 84% were black and 68% African Alison September, both beneficiaries of the
black. The priority research areas funded include, SAMRC’s Mid-Career Scientist Programme, were
inter alia, HIV, TB and other infectious diseases, recognised for their outstanding achievements,
non-communicable diseases, COVID-19, health highlighting the impact of SAMRC's Research
systems, public health, maternal and child health, Capacity Development grant programmes.
and biomedical research.
Professor Zilungile Mkhize-
Impact of RCD Grant Funding Kwitshana: A Year of Accolades
The total number of students involved in funded
projects was 209, an increase from 186 in 2024/25,
with 67% of these being female. This supports
the ongoing RCD commitment to enhancing the
capacity of the next generation of researchers
and generating new knowledge. The number of
postdoctoral fellowship and early investigator
programme awards accounted for 45 (46%) of all
RCD Grant awards, with 46% of the RCD Grant
budget dedicated to supporting the priority of
expanding the early investigator pipeline.
It is also important to emphasise that the impact of
RCD career support extends beyond the duration of
the award. Former and current RCD beneficiaries are
generally successful in securing research funding,
gaining employment, and earning recognition in their
specific fields. This is particularly evident in the Mid-
career Scientist, Research Capacity Development
Initiative, and Intramural Postdoctoral Programmes. Professor Zilungile Mkhize-Kwitshana.
Of the 16 postdoctoral fellowship awards made in
2024/2025, 9 awardees have secured positions within
the SAMRC or at other institutions. Beneficiaries in
the Mid-Career Scientist Programme continue to Professor Mkhize-Kwitshana, Professor of Immunology
demonstrate significant career growth, with their at the University of South Africa (UNISA and UKZN),
funding evident in the graduation of students and won the SAWISA prize in the Public Engagement with
both national and international recognition. Research category. This honour crowns an exceptional
year of recognition, which she attributes to strong
support from the SAMRC's RCD unit.

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