UCT gets millions for health research

The University of Cape Town has been awarded nearly R99 million from the National Institute of Health (NIH) in the US to solve world health problems. The institute's funding to UCT has increased each year, growing from more than R28m the university received in 2010.

Cape Times, 26 March 2014

The university received more funding from the institute than any other university outside the US last year. Danie Visser, deputy vice-chancellor for research at UCT, said NIH grants were highly competitive and this growing support was confirmation that UCT, along with other research institutions in South Africa, were recognised internationally for making a significant contribution to solving global health issues.

Other South African institutions to receive funding included the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the SA Medical Research Council. In total, South Africa received nearly R417m last year, second only to Canada which received R430m. Visser said one of the many benefits of this funding from the USA was that it would allow local researchers to build capacity in Africa to address its own health problems. UCT's researchers would use the funding to look into HIV, tuberculosis, malnutrition, sickle cell anaemia and mental illness.