Funding opportunities offered by a range of South African organisations for researchers at the Faculty of Health Sciences.

National Research Foundation (NRF)

Funding by the National Research Foundation (NRF) is managed and administered through the UCT Central Research Office. Application for funding from NRF programmes must be in response to a call. Consult UCT's Current funding opportunities page and the Research Announcements for updated calls and UCT internal deadlines.

For more information, visit the Funding tab on the NRF website.

South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)

The South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC) vision is to build a healthy nation through research and innovation. The SAMRC funds internal and external research projects, as well as collaborations with partnering institutions. Post graduate scholarships are managed by the UCT Postgraduate Office.

SAMRC funding opportunities consist of:

Self-Initiated Research (SIR) grants

The SIR grants programme is designed to support original research initiated by a researcher at a recognised research institution in selected priority health areas.

   Funding:

  • Up to R200 000 per year for a maximum period of three years
  • Provide support for research expenses
  • Salaries are not allowed

  Eligibility:

  • Researchers with a PhD, BDS, BChD or MBChB
  • Primarily early-career researchers (1-5 years since completing degree), but mid-level to established researchers may also apply
  • South African citizens and permanent residents who are affiliated with a South African research institution

  Submission Process:

  PI: Complete funder template

UCT eRA system

  PI: Initiate and complete Proposal Approval request
 
FHS Admin: Review proposal and budget
 
FHS Admin: Approve proposal request
 
UCT Admin: Submit application to funder via email
Research Capacity Development Grants

Research Capacity Development grants aim to strengthen capacity development and increase scientific knowledge for the advancement of health. Two research funding programmes are available to fast-track and transition early career scientists and mid-career scientists to independent researchers, namely Clinician Postdoctoral Career Development Award Programme (CP-CDA), and Early Investigators Programme (EIP)

Clinician Postdoctoral Career Development Award Programme (CP-CDA)

The SAMRC Clinician post-PhD Career Development Programme (CP-CDA) seeks to increase opportunities for talented clinicians who recently completed their PhD degrees to learn how to develop and lead their research plans before they establish their own research teams and transition to independent investigators. The programme seeks to build research capacity and scientific leadership of early-career clinician-scientists taking into account transformation requirements, focusing mainly but not limited to black and females who have demonstrated a potential to become excellent clinician-researchers.

   Funding:

  • The value of the award is negotiated around the equivalent to the after-tax take-home package for the qualification according to the South African Government cost of full-time employment
  • The funding period is two years renewable for a further third year, subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding

  Eligibility:

  • Qualified in medical and other clinical professions and have a research doctorate
  • Completed a PhD degree no more than five (5) years from the date of application (motivation from female applicants returning after a period of absence from research due to family responsibilities may be considered)
  • Preference will be given to female candidates and the historically disadvantaged groups. For this reason, we require race and gender to be specified.
  • Applicants must be younger than 45 years. Candidates older than 45 years but under 50 years need strong motivation from the host Institution.

  Submission Process:

  PI: Complete funder template

UCT eRA system

  PI: Initiate and complete Proposal Approval request
 
FHS Admin: Review proposal and budget
 
FHS Admin: Approve proposal request
 
  PI: Submit application to funder via email

Early Investigators Programme (EIP)

The Early Investigators Programme (EIP) provides funding for promising scientists who have demonstrated leadership potential to become independent researchers but are not yet at the level of a Mid-career scientist. It is expected that funded investigators will be able to strengthen their leadership skills, increase their research outputs and management skills, train and graduate research students, and attract further funding to grow their own research programmes.

   Funding:

  • Up to R500,000 per year
  • Five years, with the first two years renewable for a further three years

  Eligibility:

  • Only South African citizens and permanent residents may apply
  • Applicants must have a research doctorate in health/medical research with at least four years of demonstrated continuous postdoctoral research or two years of post-PhD research experience for clinician-scientists
  • Applicants must be affiliated to a recognized academic institution in an established academic post, i.e. permanently employed, or in a long-term contract of employment (at least for the duration of the project, salaried by the university) or must have secured a commitment from the Institution to host the proposed project and provide necessary financial support to the applicant for the duration of the grant
  • Preference is given to female candidates and the historically disadvantaged groups.
  • Applicants who have already demonstrated independence as evidenced by substantial grant income as principal investigators or have already established their research groups (for more than four years) are not eligible

  Submission Process:

  PI: Complete funder template

UCT eRA system

  PI: Initiate and complete Proposal Approval request
 
FHS Admin: Review proposal and budget
 
FHS Admin: Approve proposal request
 
UCT Admin: Submit application to funder via email
Conference Applications

The SAMRC seeks applications for funding to host national and international conferences, including summits and symposia. The theme of the conference should be aligned to the vision and mission of the SAMRC.

   Funding:

  • Up to R200,000 for international conferences
  • Up to R100,000 for national conferences
  • Must be hosted at a venue in South Africa
  • Must have medical/health research as its central theme

  Eligibility:

  • South African Higher Education Institutions (HEI), science councils or other non-profit organisations whose core business is conducting medical/health research​​​​​​
Poliomyelitis Research Foundation (PRF)

The Poliomyelitis Research Foundation (PRF) supports research aimed at furthering the development of Medical Virology in South Africa. The Foundation promotes virological research and capacity building within this speciality by funding Research Grants and Major Impact Grants. Research grants are awarded as seed grants to establish researchers who have a track record of independent innovative research supported by a significant publication record. PRF applications require pre-award approval using the PRF approval form.

  Funding:

  • Up to R150 000 per year
  • Three years of funding, based on satisfactory progress

  Eligibility:

  • Applicants should have a PhD or equivalent degree (in exceptional cases the Principal Investigator may have a master’s degree and at least 3 or more years of research experience and publications)

  Submission Process:

  PI: Complete funder template

UCT eRA system

  PI: Initiate and complete Proposal Approval request
 
FHS Admin: Review proposal and budget
 
FHS Admin: Approve proposal request
 
UCT Admin: Submit application to funder via email
The Cancer Association South Africa (CANSA)

The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) is a leader in the fight against cancer in South Africa. CANSA’s core research focus is on reducing risk, early detection and diagnosis, and optimising patient care and support, including palliation.

  Funding:

CANSA Type A Research Project funding is designed to support high-quality research to advance management and improve outcomes for the most common cancers in South Africa.

  • Up to R1,000,000.00 per annum for three years
  • This should constitute 75% of the total grant with the affiliated institution guaranteeing co-funding of the remaining 25% (R250 000)

  Eligibility:

  • Researchers with a PhD or MBChB (with evidence of independent research published in peer-reviewed journals)
  • South African citizens or permanent residents
  • Only one Type A application per applicant can be submitted per annum for review and Only one Type A grant per applicant can be held at a time

  Submission Process:

  PI: Complete funder template

UCT eRA system

  PI: Initiate and complete Proposal Approval request
 
FHS Admin: Review proposal and budget
 
FHS Admin: Approve proposal request
 
  PI: Submit application to funder via email
Discovery Foundation

The Discovery Foundation’s Rural Fellowship Awards Programme is designed to address the shortages and quality of healthcare in rural and underserved areas by supporting institutions through direct institutional awards for training and capacity development.

  Funding:

  • Between R250 000-R500 000 towards training and capacity development for healthcare in rural and/or underserved areas

  Eligibility:

  • Doctors working/studying in tertiary hospitals or facilities in underserved areas or rural communities

  Submission Process:

  PI: Complete funder template

UCT eRA system

  PI: Initiate and complete Proposal Approval request
 
FHS Admin: Review proposal and budget
 
FHS Admin: Approve proposal request
 
  PI: Submit application to funder via email