Page 25 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025

GENERAL INFORMATION

PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

BRICS TB Research Network The SAMRC hosts the Network’s website
https://bricstb.samrc.ac.za/
The Network, established in 2017, is an endeavour
to collaborate with BRICS Ministries of Health
and scientists to address the problems of TB in BRICS Multilateral Joint Science
BRICS countries and to mobilise resources to find and Technology Research
local solutions. Discussions are held to promote Collaboration
collaborative scientific research along the spectrum,
from basic to operational, for the development The BRICS STI Framework Programme (FP) aims to
and innovation on diagnostics, vaccines, drugs and support excellent research in priority areas which
regimens, infection control for TB and patient service can best be addressed by a multinational approach.
delivery. Ongoing activities during the reporting DSTI invited the SAMRC to manage the call and the
period included. awarded projects in the following two thematic areas:

• The Russian Federation hosted a network meeting • Antimicrobial resistance: technologies for
in Moscow during 23-25 April 2024. diagnosis and treatment
• WHO, at the request of the Russian Federation, • Simulation and big data analytics for advanced
hosted a network meeting in Geneva on precision medicine and public healthcare.
4 October 2024.
• BRICS has five additional country members,
viz., Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and United
Arab Emirates.

The three (3) ongoing projects are:

Project Title Principal Investigator Institution
Novel siderophore fragments and hybrids for the Prof. Rui Krause (late) / Rhodes University
diagnosis and treatment of drug resistant-infectious Prof. Rosalyn Klein
pathogens

Unlocking bacterial resistance to antibiotics with the Associate Prof. Tricia Naicker University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
development of novel metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors

Target identification and efficacy enhancement of proven Dr. Awelani Mutshembele South African Medical
MDR overcoming Piper spp derived compounds towards Research Council, Office of
candidate drug development against WHO priority 1 HIV/AIDS and TB Research
(critical) MDR pathogens: P. aeruginosa, E. coli,
K. pneumoniae, and M. tuberculosis

Collaboration with The George Institute, Australia
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the SAMRC and The George Institute for Global
Health (TGI) on 28 October 2022 for 3 years to expand collaboration between SAMRC and TGI scientists in
health research.

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