SAMRC invests over R20 million in research capacity development

Cape Town | The South African Medical Research Council’s  (SAMRC) Division of Research Capacity Development (RCD) will today launch its first-ever  RCD Grant Holders’ Meeting to empower scientists who have been awarded grants to conduct health research.

At the close of the financial year 2018/2019, in a competitive process a total of R22, 400,000.00 has been awarded to some fifty  scientists from various universities across South Africa. These scientists  conduct research under five strategic programmes, each with the unique intention to catapult transformation in how the SAMRC funds research while responding to identified gaps in heath research.

The programs are:

1. the “Research Capacity Development Initiative” which is ringfenced support for scientists within eight historically underresourced institutions,
2. the “Mid Career Scientist Program” for researchers who show exceptional potential in special nodes of research which are strategic to the agenda of the SAMRC
3. the “Intramural Post-doctoral Program” which aims to give support to intramural units as they develop research capacity within their specific research agendas and accelerate the development of young PhD graduates in their units
4. the “Researcher Development Grant” which is a program that supports (mostly) employed staff who are in their last year of a PhD and need relief for dedicated time to do a write up
5. the “International Master in Vaccinology Program” supporting candidates with a PhD (or in instances an MBChB)

“Essentially the aim of the new RCD Grant Holders’ Meeting is to highlight to the researchers the high value put on them by the SAMRC and remind them of the contribution that they make in assisting the SAMRC as it continues to excel in the delivery of its mandate,”says RCD Division Manager Dr Thabi Maitin. “We are fortunate, as the SAMRC that at this stage, we are led by a visionary such as Prof. Glenda Gray whose commitment to building the next generation of scientists has been consistent with the organisation’s transformation strategy,” adds Maitin.

The RCD Grant Holders’ meeting is an extension of similar RCD forums for post graduate beneficiaries of SAMRC funding (Masters and PhDs) known as the Early Career Scientists Convention that has been running for at least ten years.

The Grant Holders' Meeting which will take place over a two-day period will also include scientific skills training including scientific and financial report writing.

About the Research Capacity Development Division:
This Division of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) supports the growth of health research capacity by offering scholarships and grants to South African citizens who are pursuing their research careers in medical and health Sciences.