SA Medical Research Council

22/10/2025

The implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI) will require extensive changes to the South
African health system (including funding mechanisms, management structures, healthcare delivery platforms, and the scope of healthcare benefits covered), as well as the policies and regulations that govern the health sector.

The Evidence to Decision (E2D) Partnership, launched in November 2024 aims to support and build capacity for health and social care decision-making through timely and responsive evidence production and translation for efficient, effective, and equitable health services and systems.

The SAMRC, along with partners at Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care (CEBHC) and funded by the Department of Health, the E2D collaboration is a systematic evidence synthesis to inform decision making.

More on this: https://www.samrc.ac.za/press-releases/e2d-collaboration-will-ensure-best-evidence-informs-healthcare-policy-decision

22/10/2025

In an interview with Africa Outlook Magazine, Prof Ntobeko Ntusi shares how the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) continues to safeguard and strengthen health research in South Africa amid funding cuts, system pressures, and ensuring national health research priorities are met.

With vision and dedicated teams, the organisation steered a pivot, one defined by collaboration, agility, and clarity.

Under his stewardship, SAMRC continues to safeguard the nation’s most vital asset: its health.

Read the full feature here: https://www.africaoutlookmag.com/healthcare/south-african-medical-research-council-custodian-of-health-research

21/10/2025

The National Department of Health, in partnership with the South African Medical Research Council, will host the National Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Symposium on 21–22 October 2025 at Emperors Palace.

Themed "Shaping the Future of HTA in South Africa”, the event will bring together national and international HTA stakeholders to strengthen collaboration on evidence-informed decision-making and the formal adoption of HTA under National Health Insurance (NHI). Stay tuned as we collaborate to build a transparent, equitable, and sustainable health system for all South Africans.

20/10/2025

Today, Monday, 20 October, marks World Evidence-Based Health Care (EBHC) Day, celebrated under the theme “Facilitating Collaborative Knowledge Communication in Evidence-Based Healthcare.” The day highlights the importance of using research evidence to inform health decisions and improve outcomes for communities around the world.

We are proud to announce that two SAMRC-linked initiatives, the Global Evidence Local Adaptation (GELA) Project and Cochrane Africa, have had their materials accepted and featured as part of the global campaign.

The GELA Project contributed two insightful blogs that explore how collaboration and contextual adaptation can strengthen evidence use in healthcare:

Embedding collaborative priority setting and adaptation: WHO’s evidence ecosystem - https://worldebhcday.org/blog/2025/embedding-collaborative-priority-setting-and-adaptation-whos-evidence-ecosystem

How making evidence relevant to local contexts can help save lives - https://worldebhcday.org/blog/2025/how-making-evidence-relevant-local-contexts-can-help-save-lives

In addition, Cochrane Africa produced a short video showcasing the Cochrane Africa Indaba, held earlier this year — a vibrant gathering that fostered knowledge exchange among researchers and practitioners committed to advancing evidence-based healthcare on the continent. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDtBAeEhzog

20/10/2025

Last week marked an important landmark for climate and health science in South Africa. For the first time, heat and health featured prominently at a major global science and technology conference.

At a G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group side event, organised by the SAMRC, in partnership with Wits RHI and GHHIN, and supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, a collaboration was formed to advance climate-resilient development through science-driven action.

Speakers included representatives from the National Department of Health, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, UNICEF, Wits RHI, and the City of Cape Town.

Prof Caradee Wright, Chief Specialist Scientist leading the Climate Change and Health Programme at the SAMRC and member of the GHHIN Management Committee, said, " This is an opportunity to set a new agenda that tackles heat-related health impacts and identifies interventions that save lives"

17/10/2025

The Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP) hosted its 15th Conference at the SAMRC on the 15-16th October 2025. The main purpose of this hybrid conference was to showcase the work of next-generation scientists – postdoctoral fellows, PhD and MSc students. Over the 2-day event, there were 32 oral and 69 poster presentations by postgraduate students. In addition, the conference included 2 international and 4 local guest presentations by eminent scientists. The conference was attended by ~180 in-person and ~100 online participants from over 25 different institutions. For the first time, the conference also hosted exhibitors, which included 13 SAMRC approved clinical and laboratory suppliers. Overall, the conference was a huge success and we are looking forward to hosting the 16th BRIP Conference in 2026.

17/10/2025

Mental Health Awareness Month is commemorated in October in South Africa. This plain language summary provides insight into family-based interventions for the care of people with schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like disorders. Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects how people think, feel, and behave and can result in a mix of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganised thinking and behaviour, leading to a distorted sense of reality.

Family-focused interventions may help reduce relapse among patients and ease caregiver burden. These interventions can lower caregiver stress and promote a more supportive home environment, aiding recovery. It is unclear whether they improve medication adherence or quality of life. Further research is required to draw strong conclusions about their effectiveness.

This Plain Language Summary was produced by Cochrane South Africa, at the South African Medical Research Council, which seeks to improve public health outcomes through producing, promoting, and translating high-quality evidence-based research.

https://www.samrc.ac.za/evidence-in-plain-language/family-based-interventions-versus-standard-care-people-schizophrenia

16/10/2025

The Centre for Advanced Training and Innovative Research (CATIR) has officially welcomed its first cohort of trainees from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)!

A partnership between the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and Thermo Fisher Scientific, CATIR is dedicated to strengthening South Africa’s scientific capacity and empowering the next generation of researchers with advanced skills in molecular science and laboratory management.

This milestone marks the beginning of an exciting journey toward building a stronger, more innovative research ecosystem in South Africa.

10/10/2025

The SAMRC takes great pride in congratulating Dr Nonhlakanipho Sangweni, a recipient of the prestigious L’Oréal–UNESCO for Women in Science Award.

Dr Sangweni completed her PhD in Medical Physiology at Stellenbosch University, where her research explored the link between cancers/cancer therapies, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as diabetes related cardiomyopathies.
She now continues her meaningful work as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP), furthering knowledge on non-communicable diseases and their global health implications.

10/10/2025

10/10/2025

On , we’re proud to launch the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI), a new effort to expand access to care, build capacity, and promote culturally responsive mental health solutions in South Africa.

Enabled by Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) through the Global Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute, and in partnership with the SAMRC, local universities, experts, and communities, the CAMHI website provides a range of resources and reliable information about child and adolescent mental health for young people, caregivers, parents, educators, and health professionals.

Explore the webpage at https://camhi.co.za/

10/10/2025

This morning, our staff set out at 6:30 am to climb Table Mountain, using the Kloof Corner trail. Every team member who took part reached the peak.

Well done to everyone who took on some tough moments during the climb, these led them to the most rewarding views.