Page 56 - SAMRC AnnualReport 2025-26

MASTRU’s tobacco control programme combined
strong evidence generation with high-level
policy engagement, including participation
in the NEDLAC task team, presentations to
Parliament in support of the Tobacco Control
Bill, and multiple peer-reviewed publications.
Broader research translation activities included
parliamentary engagement on substance use
legislation, contributions to alcohol taxation
policy, participation in global initiatives addressing
synthetic drugs, dissemination of child mental
health resources, media engagement, and a
youth-led expert forum. These activities were
strengthened through extensive national and
international partnerships.
Building Capacity Through
Training, Mentorship, and Support

Capacity development remains central to MASTRU’s
work. During 2025/2026, the Unit supported Masters
and PhD students reflecting its commitment to
developing the next generation of researchers.

Some MASTRU staff members hold university
affiliations and contribute to postgraduate teaching
in psychiatry, medicine, public health, and public
mental health. The Unit also provides practical
research experience through opportunities
for postgraduate students to work as research
assistants on mental health studies.

Knowledge exchange and professional development
were strengthened through the SACENDU biannual
symposia, which provide a national platform for
networking and sharing emerging substance
use trends and epidemiological evidence. The
SACENDU Research Translation and Knowledge
Sharing platform further delivered four structured
capacity-building sessions to strengthen the ability
of service providers and researchers to apply
evidence in substance use treatment practice.
MASTRU also co-convened a four-day national
webinar series with the Public Health Association
of South Africa in November 2025, focusing on the
ethical, methodological and practical challenges of
conducting research in marginalised and violence-
affected communities. The initiative promoted Capacity development remains central
applied learning, cross-sector collaboration to MASTRU’s work. The Unit supported
Masters and PhD students reflecting
and knowledge exchange among researchers, its commitment to developing the next
practitioners and civil society. generation of researchers.

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