The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) opened the 2021 Request for Applications for Self-initiated Research Grants. The internal closing date for submission of applications is 17 June 2021.

The SAMRC’s Self-initiated Research (SIR) Grants Programme is designed to support original research initiated by a researcher at a recognised research institution in selected areas of health. SIR grants are in the amount of up to R200 000 per year for a maximum period of three years. These funds provide support for research expenses and it is expected that researchers/applicants already have in place the necessary equipment and facilities required for the proposed research.

Applications are invited in two different categories as follows:

1. early-career researchers and
2. mid-level and established researchers.

In keeping with the SAMRC’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this call will be confined to COVID-related research. Applications with a strong focus on COVID-19 are therefore invited from all health-related disciplines and research types, including, for example, basic laboratory science, social science, clinical research, and so on.

Please follow this link for more details: http://www.samrc.ac.za/funding/self-initiated-research. Alternatively, click the following links for the:

• Proposal Template
• Grant Approval Form

NB: If you are considering applying for this grant and require ethics clearance; kindly initiate the process through your faculty to avoid delays should you successfully be awarded with this grant.