The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) has announced a significant five-year extension for its collaborative Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit (DDDRU) at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Under the seasoned leadership of Professor Kelly Chibale, this renewal comes on the heels of a comprehensive scientific review that underscored the unit’s instrumental role in combatting tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) critical health issues disproportionately affecting South Africa, Africa, and other low- to middle-income nations.
Professor Liesl Zühlke, Vice President of the SAMRC, lauded the achievements of Chibale and his team, expressing enthusiasm for their anticipated contributions to SAMRC’s strategic health objectives. With the hosting of the project set to begin on 1 April 2025, the DDDRU will continue to benefit from annual funding and remain eligible for additional incentivised support, a financial lifeline that is increasingly important amid global uncertainties surrounding research funding.
“As the largest local funder of health research, medical diagnostics, medical devices, and therapeutics, the SAMRC has played a significant role in supporting our unit’s efforts over many years. We are immensely grateful for this continued support. This renewed funding commitment over the next five years serves as a crucial boost for the sustainability of our unit at UCT,” remarked Chibale in response to the renewal announcement.
He expressed determination to implement the recommendations from the review report to maximise the impact of their research.
The DDDRU has earned remarkable praise from the review panel, led by SAMRC’s Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform’s Professor Christo Muller, alongside an international array of experts including Professor Ian Gilbert from the University of Dundee, Professor Lyn-Marie Birkholtz from Stellenbosch University, and Professor Yahya E Choonara from the University of the Witwatersrand.
It received an astounding average score of 4.7 out of 5 on nearly all evaluation criteria, a testament to the unit’s exceptional scientific output.
During the review period, the DDDRU produced an impressive body of work, including 100 published peer-reviewed articles and research reviews, three non-peer-reviewed journal articles, seven book chapters, and 15 editorial commentaries. Its research has gained substantial traction in high-impact journals, resulting in noteworthy publication and citation metrics.
“This renewed funding commitment over the next five years is a major boost to the long-term sustainability of our unit at UCT,” Chibale explained.
The unit also solidified its international standing, with members delivering 20 invited plenary and keynote presentations at global conferences and three prominent addresses within South Africa.
The DDDRU’s commitment now is nurturing the next generation of African scientists is evident, with 16 PhD students and eight master’s students graduating during the review period, four of whom earned distinctions.
