Call for Research Proposals: Implementation research addressing strategies for strengthening of health systems
Together with the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) is inviting investigators to submit applications with a focus on implementation research, addressing strategies for strengthening of health systems to improve equity in high quality care and health outcomes and reduce the prevalence and impact of non-communicable diseases.
Application process
GACD opens funding call
Applicants intending to apply for funding from SAMRC should advise of their intent to participate in the call via email to samrcgacd@mrc.ac.za.
Stage 1
First stage proposals submitted to the GACD Portal.
First stage proposal deadline: 16 June 2025 (18:00 CET)
First stage proposals are verified and compliant applications assessed by GACD Joint International Review Panel.
Applicants notified of Stage 1 review outcomes by GACD.
Shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a second stage proposal and respond to reviewer feedback in the GACD Portal.
Stage 2
Shortlisted South African applicants applying to SAMRC for support of the South African components of the research submit a second stage proposal to the GACD Portal and the collaborating Australian applicants complete an NHMRC application in Sapphire. The Sapphire application will include a budget justification for the funding requested from NHMRC, and upload of the second stage proposal submitted to GACD.
Second stage proposal deadline: October 2025
Meeting of the GACD Joint International Peer Review Panel to assess second stage proposals.
GACD notifies SAMRC of applications deemed fundable by the GACD Joint International Panel.
Funding
One of the conditions of joint funding is that South African research teams applying for funding are expected to include Principal Investigator(s) (PI) from participating GACD members in the GACD application (for the Strengthening Health Systems call, inclusion of PIs from NHMRC). Applicants are encouraged to visit the websites of the GACD funding agencies as well as the GACD website for specification of the individual participating agencies.
No other funding can be combined with the GACD call. If the PI leaves the service of his/her Institution, he must immediately inform the GACD secretariat and funding agencies.
The budgets of the applications should be realistic and ensure that the potential outcomes of the projects could be reached within the proposed timelines. The period of funding will not exceed 5 years. The number of projects to be funded and the total amount requested per application will be determined by its scientific merit as assessed by the joint GACD expert review panel.
Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases – applicant briefing webinar
If you have any questions or queries, or just want to find out a bit more about the GACD Strengthening Health Systems Funding Call, we will be hosting a webinar for prospective applicants, on Wednesday May 21 2025.
The briefing will take place in two sittings:
- Sitting A: 7am UTC (8am London, 9am Cape Town, 5pm Sydney) Register for Sitting A here
- Sitting B: 3pm UTC (4pm London, 1pm Sao Paolo, 8am Vancouver) Register for Sitting B here
SAMRC invites South African researchers to submit first stage applications to GACD for joint funding for the Strengthening Health Systems call with the Australian NHMRC only.
SAMRC encourages prospective applicants to the Strengthening Health Systems funding call to attend the webinar. Webinar registration details, application key dates and application guidance are available on the GACD website.
Contact details
Enquiries should be directed to the following e-mail address: samrcgacd@mrc.ac.za
