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ABOUT SAMRC
Our mandate
The mandate of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), in terms of the
MRC Act 58, 1991 (as amended), is to improve the health and quality of life of South Africans.
This needs to be realised through research, development, and technology transfer.
Who we are?
The SAMRC was established in 1969 and is dedicated to improving the health of people in
South Africa, through research, innovation, development, and technology transfer. The scope of
research includes laboratory investigations, clinical research, and public health studies.
We conduct research on South Africa’s quadruple burden of disease: maternal, newborn and
child health, HIV/AIDS and TB, non-communicable diseases, and interpersonal violence. Our
work is to acquire evidence-based information to inform health policy and practice and improve
the quality and health status of people in South Africa.
We are the largest local funder of health research, medical diagnostics, medical devices,
and therapeutics. We are pioneers in cutting edge medical innovations focusing on genomic
research, the development of novel treatment regimens, vaccine development, diagnostic
tools, and developing new drugs and devices.
Transformation remains an integral part of building sustainable health research capacity
in South Africa. through Self-Initiated Research (SIR) grants, the Mid-Career Scientist
programme, the Bongani Mayosi National Health Scholars Programme, and other
programmes and platforms, the SAMRC will continue to address gender, racial, institutional,
and geographic parity, and strengthen our capacity to flourish in the 21st century.
As a custodian of health research, the SAMRC is building a
healthy nation through research and innovation.
