Faculty of Health Sciences

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) has released funding opportunities under the South African National Health Research Enterprise (NHRE) Programme. The programme is supported by the SAMRC, National Treasury through the National Department of Health, the Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust, and aims to help retain research capacity and infrastructure within South Africa. Applications can be submitted under the following themes:

• Health Systems Research

The call focuses on health systems research with a clear pathway to policy uptake, health system strengthening, equitable access to quality healthcare, scalability and measurable impact within the South African public health system.
o Award details: Supports three-year projects, of up to R2 Million per annum or a maximum of R6 Million over 3 years
Deadline: 16 October 2026- Download the PDF outlining UCT’s deadlines for internal approval

• Research in Women, Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health

The call supports research to address maternal, neonatal and child health challenges in South Africa, including maternal and perinatal mortality, healthcare system weaknesses, and neonatal infections. It also prioritises under-researched gynaecological conditions and seeks innovative approaches to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management, with a focus on equity, local relevance, translation and sustainability.
o Award details: Supports three-year projects, of up to R5M per annum or a maximum of R15M over 3 years.
Deadline: 16 October 2026- Download the PDF outlining UCT’s deadlines for internal approval

• Research in Non-communicable Diseases 

The call focuses on two priority programmes: (1) cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and (2) cancer. Proposals should address people at risk and vulnerable populations, with attention to modifiable, metabolic and environmental risk factors, and should demonstrate potential socioeconomic benefit, ideally through prevention and control strategies that can reduce avoidable mortality and morbidity
o Award details: Supports three-year projects, of up to R5 Million per annum or a maximum of R15 Million over 3 years.
Deadline: 15 October 2026- Download the PDF outlining UCT’s deadlines for internal approval

Please complete the Intention to Submit form if you plan to apply for this funding opportunity, allowing our team to track your progress and offer full support.

(https://www.samrc.ac.za/funding/south-african-national-health-research-enterprise-research-tb-hiv-other-infectious-diseases)

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) invites applications for research projects that will strengthen the South African National Health Research Enterprise by advancing research on tuberculosis (TB), HIV and other infectious diseases. This RFA invites applications from eligible South African researchers and institutions for projects that generate knowledge, evidence, tools, innovations, platforms, interventions or implementation models to address priority gaps in TB, HIV and other infectious diseases. Applications should be aligned with South Africa’s health priorities and demonstrate clear potential to contribute to improved health outcomes, strengthened research capacity, equitable access to innovation and public health impact.

Eligibility  

• Researchers with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Principal Investigator.
• Principal Investigators must be South African citizens or permanent residence holders and must be employed by an eligible South African institution capable of administering the grant. 

Award details    

• Up to R5 million per annum, to a maximum of R15 million over three years.

   

Download the PDF outlining UCT’s deadlines for internal approval

Funder deadline:  

11 October 2026