The South African Medical Research Council (MRC) is the best established statutory research body in sub-Saharan Africa. Established in 1969 by an Act of Parliament, the MRC has since worked very hard to earn its place as one of Africa’s top science councils.
The MRC’s task is to improve the health and quality of life of the population of South Africa through excellent scientific research. Health, development, economic growth and the well-being of the nation are closely linked, and research is the cornerstone of health care.
What the MRC does
The MRC interprets health needs and mobilises skills and resources into action to tackle them.
Their work transcends national and international boundaries. The MRC works on its own, or forges strategic alliances to mobilise targeted task teams to address specific problems.
MRC research has an impact on everyday life by:
- seeking an effective AIDS vaccine for Africa
- effecting changes in mosquito control and malaria drugs
- participating in the Global Alliance on Tuberculosis Drug Development (they are one of three centres in the world, their role being to research and develop new TB drugs)
- preventing babies at risk from dying in the womb
- fighting for accurate accounts of everyday horrors like rape and violence, so that they can deal with them properly
- incorporating indigenous communities in research through assessing traditional medicines for potential cures, and
- inventing cures and solutions (for example, how to grow new bone tissue to fix terrible injuries, or finding new treatments for pneumonia and meningitis).
The MRC provides crucial information at many levels, giving decision-makers in government policy recommendations on issues such as alcohol or tobacco misuse, intestinal parasites in children and specific information regarding the rates of crime, violence and injury in South Africa.
It carries out capacity development - crucial for creating the scientists South Africa will need tomorrow. A programme exists for the accelerated fast-tracking of black African medical and health scientists.
The MRC identifies current problems and long-term issues, getting the teams and the money together and developing solutions.
How do they do it?
The MRC is a science, engineering and technology institution (SETI), largely funded by the government. Activities undertaken by SETIs must serve to advance national goals and priorities.
The MRC’s research is organised into 6 national programmes, focusing on:
- Environment and health
- Health systems and policy
- Infection and immunity
- Molecules to disease
- Non-communicable diseases
- Women and child health.
In carrying out this research the MRC also focuses on:
- Ethics and human rights
- Capacity development
- Culture and indigenous knowledge
- Information and knowledge management
- Intellectual property.
The MRC provides crucial information at many levels, giving decision-makers in government policy recommendations on issues such as alcohol or tobacco misuse, intestinal parasites in children and specific information regarding the rates of crime, violence and injury in South Africa.
Its work is in line with the national science and technology imperatives and the health priorities defined by the Department of Health.
The MRC conducts or supports research on its own or with experienced partners such as universities and scientific institutions. The MRC's teams network with health policy-makers, other researchers and stakeholders in research such as the universities and technikons, as well as with the wider research community.
Contact details
MRC Cape Town
Francie van Zijl Drive
Parowvallei, Cape;
PO Box 19070
Tygerberg 7505
Tel: +27 21 938-0911
Fax: +27 21 938-0200
E-mail: az.ca.crm|gnihteg.enrevel#az.ca.crm|gnihteg.enrevel
MRC Pretoria
MRC Building
1 Soutpansberg Road
Pretoria;
Private Bag X385
Pretoria 0001
Tel: +27 12 339-8500
Fax: +27 12 324-1695
E-mail: az.ca.crm|etuhs.naej#az.ca.crm|etuhs.naej
MRC Durban
491 Ridge Road
Congella, Durban;
PO Box 70380
Overport, 4067
Tel: +27 31 203-4700
Fax: +27 31 203-4701
E-mail: az.ca.crm|tnoskcaj#az.ca.crm|tnoskcaj
See also…
Health Systems Trust
World Health Organisation
Cochrane Centre
