Research Strategy, 2005 - 2010
Background
The MRC Board and Executive Management Committee have emphasised the need to sharpen the focus of the MRC on its core business: research. The MRC Research Strategy 2005 - 2010 has therefore been developed to ensure that the MRC's research activities are relevant, responsive and of high quality. This is essential if MRC research is to achieve, through research translation, its vision of 'building a healthy nation through research'.
The mandate of the Medical Research Council is legislated in terms of Act 58 of 1991:
'The objects of the MRC are, through research, development and technology transfer, to promote the improvement of the health and the quality of life of the population of the Republic, and to perform such other functions as may be assigned to the MRC by or under this Act.'
In parallel with the development of the MRC Research Strategy 2005-2010, a new strategic plan, the MRC Strategic Plan 2005-2010, has been developed. The plan lists nine strategic objectives for the MRC, of which the primary strategic objective of the MRC is research:
The nine MRC strategic objectives are grouped into three categories:
A. Promotion and conduction of research
Promoting and conducting research is the core business and primary strategic objective of the MRC as a knowledge-producing organisation. Without research, the vision of the MRC of 'building a healthy nation through research' cannot be achieved.
- Research strategy and business plan
B. Professional support for research
Research cannot take place, and staff cannot develop, unless supported by corporate professional services.
- Financial model strategy and plan
- Opportunity and risk management
- Capacity development
- Transformation and development
C. Research translation
Research makes no difference to health and quality of life unless it is translated into interventions such as policy, practice and products, which can have an impact on the health and quality of life of the nation.
- Innovation management and technology transfer
- Informatics and knowledge management
- Research translation
- Stakeholder management
This refocusing of the business of the MRC is also manifested in the restructuring of the Executive Research Directorate that has taken place since late 2004, which included the merger of the Executive Research Directorate with the Capacity Development Directorate in 2004, with a single Executive Director for Research where formerly there were two.
The restructuring of the MRC executive will be completed in 2006 with regard to MRC professional support structures. These developments will complement the research strategy and consolidate the position of research as the primary focus of the organisation.
Health research is complex and multifaceted, and there is thus a need to redefine the overarching strategy of the organisation in a manner that maximises the opportunities and minimises the threats posed by the changing macro-political landscape. This comes at a time when the country is beset by multiple major health challenges for which the MRC, as well as other science councils and higher education institutes, need to find new health solutions derived from the new knowledge generated by health and related research. |
