The SAMRC and the Newton Fund have a long-standing collaboration with a focus on responding to the national health priorities in South Africa. The co-funding partnership with the Newton Fund and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) funders fosters strong networks with research capacity to address critical health issues.
The South African researchers’ insight into current health problems, access to health services, patients, unique data and identifying key topics for research coupled to the UK Principal Investigators’ expertise, infrastructure and networks ensures that relevant health priorities are identified and addressed, and that novel research is funded that helps to resolve critical health issues. These multidisciplinary international projects also present the opportunity for applied science and discovery that drives innovation.
Since 2014, this partnership funded several programmes focusing on the following areas: Translation Research in Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), Mental Health in South Africa, Tuberculosis (TB) Implementation Science, and Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR): Drug Discovery and Antibiotic Accelerator.
To celebrate this partnership, the Newton Fund South Africa in-country team profiled a series of projects within the respective Funded programmes, which included:
In conjunction with World Heart Day and Heart Awareness Month, NCDs programme highlighted the project titled “African cardiomyopathy and myocarditis registry programme: the IMHOTEP study” by Professor Ntobeko Ntusi, UK-South Africa IMHOTEP study
For World Mental Health Day, The Mental Health Programme highlighted the CONNECT study led by Professor John Joska & Dr Sam Nightingale titled “Neuropsychiatric problems related to HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy in Cape Town (the CONNECT study)”.
To raise awareness about the continued fight against TB, TB Implementation Science Programme highlighted the study led by Professor Wendy Stevens titled “Technology supported systems for rapid impact on TB control”.
To mark World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR): Drug Discovery Programme showcased the study titled “Harnessing natural product diversity to combat multi-drug resistance pathogens” led by Professor Rosemary Dorrington
and the anti-microbial resistance screening centre at Holistic Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) led by Professor Kelly Chibale
To read more about the Newton Fund | click HERE