South Africa and Global Partners Mobilise Millions to Sustain Health Research Capacity
In a bold and strategic move to ensure the resilience of the South African National Health Research Enterprise, the South African government has announced a significant funding injection of R400 million over the next three years. This investment will be augmented by generous commitments of R100 million each from the Gates Foundation (GF) and the Wellcome Trust (WT), bringing the total commitment to R600 million.
This financial support aims to protect critical research capability to support future health research efforts in the country.
“This is a critical moment for South African science and public health. The withdrawal of US funding could have severely compromised key research programmes that underpin our national response to diseases such as HIV, TB, and non-communicable diseases,” said Professor Ntobeko Ntusi, President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). “We are immensely grateful to the Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust for standing with us during this time, and to our government for swiftly stepping in to safeguard our research infrastructure and workforce.”
In recognition of the urgency, the South African government has already approved an initial R132 million allocation for the 2025/26 financial year under the emergency provisions of the Public Finance Management Act. The remaining R268 million will be proposed through the 2026 budget process to complete the three-year commitment.
The SAMRC will administer the funding through its established competitive grant application processes, ensuring a transparent and strategic allocation to projects at risk of disruption due to reductions in longstanding funding streams. The Request For Applications (RFA) for research projects conducted in South Africa and directly affected by recent funding cuts has already been issued and can be accessed via the SAMRC website. This RFA seeks to support research and academic institutions with active US grants that were directly affected by the US funding withdrawal and critical to the sustainability of these institutions. The funds may be used for critical research, staffing, students, maintenance of infrastructure and capacity development in line with the original awarded grants.
Thematic areas of support will include all areas impacted such as HIV, TB, mental health, maternal and child health, and health systems strengthening.
About the SAMRC
The mandate of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) is to improve the health and quality of life of South Africans, realised through research, development and technology transfer. Established in 1969, the scope of the organisation’s research projects includes tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular and non-communicable diseases, gender and health, and alcohol and other drug abuse. With a strategic objective to help strengthen the health systems of the country – in line with that of the Department of Health, the SAMRC constantly identifies the main causes of death in South Africa.
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