SAMRC Early Investigators Programme 2026
About this opportunity
Funding up to R500,000 per year for early-career health and medical researchers to establish independent research programs and progress toward mid-career leadership.
SAMRC Early Investigators Programme 2026 – A funding opportunity for early-career South African researchers in health/medical fields to establish independent research teams and transition into mid-career positions. The programme supports three years of funding up to R500,000 annually, with a focus on SAMRC priority areas like infectious diseases, maternal health, and digital health. Preference is given to projects with public health impact and those led by underrepresented groups or researchers at resource-limited institutions.
Key details
South AfricaWhat you get
- Up to **R500,000 per year** for research and salary (R300,000 salary + R200,000 research expenses)
- Support for establishing a research team, leadership training, and public health impact
- Institutional commitment to host the project and provide infrastructure
Documents needed
- Application form with full research proposal
- Milestone table
- Budget form
- Reviewer nomination form
- Applicant motivation letter
- Principal Investigator’s CV (publication list + referee contact details)
- Co-Principal Investigator’s CV (top 10 cited articles)
- Senior collaborator’s CV or bio-sketch (NIH format)
- Certified copy of applicant’s ID
- Letter of support from the institution’s DVC Research or equivalent
- Institutional commitment letter (Research Office) confirming infrastructure, funding, and research environment
How to apply
- Complete the short online application registration form
- Upload the following documents online and email to `RCDgrants.applications@mrc.ac.za` by **09 October 2026**: application form, milestones, budget, reviewer nomination, and supporting annexures
- Submit the full application package before the deadline; late/incomplete submissions will not be considered
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