The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) is inviting applications from eligible early-career health and medical researchers for the SAMRC Early Investigators Programme 2026.
The research funding programme is designed to help promising early-career scientists establish independent research programmes, develop research teams and progress towards mid-career scientific leadership. Successful applicants can receive up to R500,000 per year for three years, subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.
The programme is administered through the SAMRC’s Division of Research Capacity Development (RCD) and focuses on strengthening the long-term sustainability of health research in South Africa.
The SAMRC Early Investigators Programme is a career development initiative for researchers who are moving from postdoctoral research into independent research careers.
The programme aims to support emerging health research leaders as they develop their own research teams, strengthen leadership and research management capabilities, increase research outputs, supervise and graduate students, and attract additional research funding.
The initiative also seeks to contribute to the retention of researchers in South Africa’s public sector, particularly in research areas considered strategically important to the National Department of Health (NDoH) and SAMRC.
SAMRC Research Priority Areas
The 2026 Request for Applications is seeking researchers working in specific health and medical research priority areas.
These include:
- Infectious diseases
- Non-communicable diseases
- Maternal, child and adolescent health
- Health systems and policy research
- Digital health and artificial intelligence
- Climate change and health
- Genomics
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Pandemic preparedness
Research projects that align with the SAMRC mandate and demonstrate potential for public health impact will receive preference.
How Much Funding Is Available?
The programme provides up to R500,000 per year for three years.
The funding allocation includes:
- R200,000 per year for research expenses
- R300,000 per year towards the awardee’s salary
Funding is linked to agreed milestones and deliverables and remains subject to the terms and conditions of the award and availability of funds.
Because part of the grant supports the awardee’s salary, the applicant’s institution must provide formal commitments as part of the application.
Institutional Support Requirements
The host institution plays an important role in the SAMRC Early Investigators Programme.
The application must include a formal institutional commitment confirming that the institution will:
- Appoint the applicant as a researcher
- Support the running expenses of the proposed research project
- Provide the necessary research infrastructure
- Provide an enabling research environment
- Provide the required matching contribution towards remuneration and research expenses
The award should also demonstrate a measurable contribution towards retaining researchers in the South African public sector in areas of strategic interest to the NDoH and SAMRC.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is open to South African citizens and permanent residents who meet the specified research and career-stage requirements.
Applicants must:
- Hold a research doctorate in health or medical research
- Typically have 3–5 years of demonstrated postdoctoral research experience
- Clinician-scientists must have at least one year of post-PhD research experience
- Be younger than 45 years, although applicants over 45 may apply with strong institutional motivation
- Be affiliated with a recognised academic or health research institution for at least the duration of the project, or have secured an institutional commitment to host the project
Applicants who are already fully remunerated in an academic or research position by their institutions, have demonstrated substantial independence through significant principal-investigator grant income, or have established research groups for more than three years are not eligible.
The award also cannot be held concurrently with another SAMRC capacity development grant. All other funding must be declared.
Full-time employees of SAMRC Intramural Research Units are also not eligible to hold the award.
What Does the Selection Process Involve?
Eligible applications will undergo a peer-review process. Review reports will be considered by the Grant Selection Committee, which will assess applications against established evaluation criteria.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate the ability to conceive, design, implement and adapt a substantial research programme with scientific integrity.
The proposed research should have clearly defined objectives and expected outputs linked to SAMRC strategic research priorities.
The programme encourages applications from Black and women early-career scientists and researchers based at resource-limited institutions, with a stated target of 65% of awards. However, the SAMRC states that academic merit and the scientific quality of the proposed research remain key considerations.
Projects conducted on behalf of commercial entities will not be considered.
Documents Required
Applicants must first complete the online application registration process and then submit the required application materials.
These include:
- Completed SAMRC Early Investigators Programme application form
- Full research proposal
- Milestone table
- Budget form
- Reviewer nomination form
- Applicant motivation letter
- Full CV and complete publication list
- Contact details for two confidential referees
- Co-Principal Investigator CV, including 10 most-cited journal articles
- CV or two-page NIH-format biosketch of a senior research staff member or collaborator, where applicable
- Certified copy of the applicant’s ID
- Letter of support from the DVC Research or equivalent
- Institutional commitment letter
- Other required supporting annexures
Applicants should ensure that all required documents are completed and submitted according to the official instructions.
Application Process
Applicants must first complete the online application registration form before uploading the completed application form, milestone table, budget form, reviewer nomination form and supporting documents.
The completed submission must be submitted online and emailed to the SAMRC RCD grants applications office before the deadline.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
The SAMRC expects to release the outcome of successful applications before 30 April 2027.
Application Deadline
The deadline for the SAMRC Early Investigators Programme 2026 is Friday, 9 October 2026 at 23:59.
Researchers should submit their applications before the closing time and allow sufficient time to obtain institutional letters, certify required documents and complete all application components.
Have You Applied?
The SAMRC Early Investigators Programme 2026 offers an opportunity for eligible early-career South African health and medical researchers to receive up to R500,000 annually for three years while developing independent research programmes.
The programme covers strategic research areas including infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, digital health and AI, genomics, antimicrobial resistance, climate change and health, and pandemic preparedness.
Interested researchers should carefully review the official RFA, eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria and institutional commitments before submitting their applications.
