South African Medical Research Council

Home 1

The South African Medical Research Council recognises the catastrophic and persisting consequences of colonialism and apartheid, including land dispossession and the intentional imposition of educational and health inequities.

Acknowledging the SAMRC’s historical role in, and silence on, health and research inequalities during apartheid, the organisation commits its capacities and resources to continued promotion of equity and dignity in health and health care.
South African Study Confirms Safety and Effectiveness of COVID-19 Booster for Healthcare Workers

A new study sponsored by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) published in the journal PLOS Global Public Health has provided encouraging results on the safety and effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccine booster among healthcare workers, including th

Read more
SAMRC Gender and Health Research Unit Report Featured in UN Global Femicide Study

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Gender and Health Research Unit's (GHRU) pivotal research on femicide has been prominently featured in the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) latest annual report, Femicides in 2023 - Global

Read more
SAMRC President and CEO hosts lecture on Diabetes-couples self-management intervention in SA

On the 20th of November, SAMRC President and CEO, Prof Ntobeko Ntusi hosted a lecture at the Medicina campus in Cape Town. The event was opened by Prof Ntusi, who welcomed and introduced the speaker, Prof Nuala McGrath who presented “Diabetes Together: a cou

Read more
SAMRC Hosts 20th Violence Prevention Forum, Celebrates 9 Years of Impact

As South Africa observes the annual 16 Days of Activism For No Violence Against Women and Children from 25 November – 10 December under the theme “Towards 30 years of the Beijing declaration and platform for action: unite to end violence against women”,

Read more
Addressing Heat-Health Risks in South Africa’s Minibus Taxi Sector and Assessing Heat-health Perceptions

The impact of rising temperatures is increasingly affecting the most vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and those living with disabilities. Unfortunately, these groups often lack access to essential resources and int

Read more
SAMRC contributes to WHO guidelines on the prevention of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease

A new World Health Organization Guidelines Report has been launched focusing on the prevention and diagnosis of the Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). Researchers from the South African Medical Research Council contributed to these guidelines, with Prof Liesl Züh

Read more
South Africa’s Femicide Crisis Persists: New Report Highlights Increase in Intimate Partner Femicide Violence and Declining Convictions

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Gender & Health Research Unit has released the results from their fourth national femicide study revealing that South Africa continues to have some of the highest femicide rates in the world. The report

Read more

About us

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.

Vision

Building a healthy nation through research, innovation and transformation

Mission

To advance the nation’s health and quality of life and address inequity by conducting and funding relevant and responsive health research, capacity development, innovation and research translation