ASSAf annually awards ASSAf Science-for-Society Gold Medals for outstanding achievement in scientific thinking to the benefit of society. This year the awards were presented to two eminent scientists and one of them being Prof Keertan Dheda, director of the Centre for the Study of Antimicrobial Resistance which is an SAMRC Extramural Research Unit.

Two SAMRC researchers were among the 44 distinguished scholars and scientists recently inaugurated as Members of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) at the annual Awards Ceremony on 23 October 2024.

In 2022, the SAMRC established a partnership with the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation (CSSFF) to build a skilled workforce focused largely on the biomanufacturing sector, through a generous donation from the CSSFF to the SAMRC.

The Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership has announced the appointment of distinguished scientist and leader in the medical research community, Professor Glenda Gray, as the new chair of its board of directors.

On September 17, 2024, the University of Fort Hare in Alice became the vibrant hub of scientific exploration as it hosted the inaugural International Microorganism Day. The event, organised by the South African Medical Research Council Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, aimed to enlighten grade 12 learners about the vital role microorganisms play in our lives and the environment.