Prof Ntobeko Ntusi knows how important his role at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) is—and he has the expertise and heart to ensure it benefits all South Africans.
Born and raised in Umtata in the Eastern Cape, Prof Ntobeko Ntusi was drawn to both science and the social factors that shape people’s lives from an early age.
After completing an undergraduate liberal arts degree in the United States in Cellular and Molecular Biology and Medical Sociology, Prof Ntusi returned to South Africa to study medicine at the University of Cape Town, graduating with a MBChB in 2003.
He trained as a young doctor at a time when the HIV and AIDS epidemic was devastating communities across the country – an experience that would prove utterly seminal and substantially shape his view of medicine.
Prof Ntusi went on to specialise in internal medicine and later in cardiology, completing his DPhil in Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Oxford. This was followed by an MD, also in Cardiovascular Medicine, from the University of Cape Town.
As Chair and Head of the Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital and through various national and international roles, Prof Ntusi became deeply involved in shaping postgraduate training, research strategy, and health policy engagement.
Involvement with national advisory structures, international research consortia, and capacity-building initiatives across the continent reinforced his commitment to advancing science that is relevant, equitable, and impactful.
“This was a natural progression of my journey and it was an opportunity to significantly increase the visibility and impact of my work, as the SAMRC sits at the nexus of science, policy, and societal impact,” Prof Ntusi explains.
“My experiences as a clinician, researcher, educator, and institutional leader have all pointed toward the same conviction: that high-quality, locally relevant research is essential to improving health outcomes and addressing inequality and inequity in South Africa and across Africa.”
The work of the SAMRC
The core mandate of the SAMRC is to improve the health and quality of life of all South Africans through research, innovation, technology transfer, and translation of evidence into policy and practice.
Therefore, the SAMRC exists to ensure that science serves society and that research does not sit in journals, but actively shapes a stronger, more equitable health system.
At this pivotal moment in South Africa’s development, marked by strain on the health system, persistent inequality, and the shift towards National Health Insurance, the role of a research institution like the SAMRC becomes even more critical.
“We invest substantially in research capacity development, taking a pipeline approach from provision of postgraduate scholarships to bespoke postdoctoral, early- and mid-career fellowships,” Prof Ntusi shares. “We manage and administer grants and take seriously meeting the development needs of African institutions in providing support and mentorship in research administration and management.
“We host the innovation hub for health research in South Africa, in collaboration with the Technology Innovation Agency, through the Medical Device and Diagnostic Innovation Cluster (MeDDIC).”
All of the SAMRC’s work is underpinned by the quality of the partnerships they are able to form, which leverages the investment from the South African government to significantly amplify opportunities for scientists in the country and region.
Cultural imperatives and real-world impact
The SAMRC’s central priority is to ensure that solutions to South Africa’s health challenges are developed on the continent, not outsourced.
Therefore, a lot of the entity’s work focuses on enhancing aspects of culture, looking to build an organisation where all employees have high levels of belonging and fulfilment, and where they can thrive to reach their personal and professional aspirations.
“Over the next five years, we will intensify our focus on the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and mental health, strengthening prevention and implementation science to address the root drivers of illness. We are also continuing our focus on endemic infections, violence and interpersonal trauma, and maternal, child, and adolescent health, recognising that early-life interventions are foundational to breaking cycles and improving national productivity,” he says.
“Agility is equally critical. In a context of fiscal constraint and shifting political priorities, the SAMRC must remain evidence-led, responsive, and strategically independent, guided by public health needs rather than short-term cycles.”
As health innovations and challenges evolve, the SAMRC will continue to expand its priorities to include digital health and AI, climate change and health, health systems, antimicrobial resistance, genomic medicine, and pandemic preparedness.
In terms of how this research translates into real-world impact, Prof Ntusi says that the SAMRC aligns its research agenda closely with national health priorities and maintains active partnerships with policymakers to ensure evidence moves directly into decision-making spaces.
“An example of this is our alcohol harm reduction research, which has directly informed national debates on liquor regulation and public health policy, providing data on trauma patterns, gender-based violence, and injury.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, SAMRC modelling and excess mortality analyses from the Burden of Disease research unit shaped national response strategies and resource allocation decisions.
“Our health systems research has also supported improvements in HIV and TB service delivery models, contributing to more efficient testing, treatment initiation, and patient retention strategies. In maternal and child health, evidence generated through our surveillance and intervention studies has informed provincial planning and strengthened early-life health programmes,” he explains.
Healthcare and collaboration
Building the next generation of scientists is vital, which is why the SAMRC has implemented a suite of initiatives targeting early-career and historically underrepresented researchers.
This includes competitive scholarships, postdoctoral fellowships, and structured mentorship programmes that pair emerging scientists with experienced investigators across all units.
“We also invest in targeted capacity-building within key areas of national priority, for example, training programmes in epidemiology and clinical trials. These initiatives ensure that young scientists gain both technical expertise and practical experience in translating research into policy and patient impact,” Prof Ntusi says.
Beyond individual development, the SAMRC fosters inclusive research environments through partnerships with universities, regional research networks, and community stakeholders.
“Our collaborations in genomics, vaccine development, and infectious disease modelling have enabled the rapid adaptation of global innovations to the South African context.
“Similarly, partnerships on non-communicable disease research bring global best practices into practice with local data, cultural contexts, and implementation capacity,” he adds.
At every stage, the SAMRC maintains strategic oversight, co-designing projects with local researchers, policymakers, and communities. This ensures that international engagement strengthens, rather than dictates, the continent’s scientific autonomy.
Innovation and the future
Rapid advances in data science, genomics, and digital health mean the world of medicine is constantly evolving.
So, how does the SAMRC ensure it maintains a level of innovation which ensures a consistent level of output?
Prof Ntusi explains: “In data science, the South African Population Research Infrastructure Network allows us to link population-based data across the country, generating robust evidence to guide policy, optimise health system planning, and anticipate public health needs.
“In genomics, the arrival of the MGI T7 high-throughput sequencing platform in 2025, the first in Africa, will dramatically expand South Africa’s capacity for large-scale genomic research.
“In digital health, SAMRC initiatives leverage mobile and electronic platforms to strengthen both research and patient care. Our electronic surveillance systems, such as those used in HIV and TB monitoring, enable real-time tracking of disease trends to guide rapid public health responses.”
Looking ahead, Prof Ntusi believes that collaboration strengthens everything the SAMRC does, so a focus on building lasting partnerships based on a shared sense of value, respect, health justice, and dignity in research is vital.
“Equally important is clear and accessible communication, sharing findings openly, demonstrating impact by showing tangible improvements in services, and engaging communities directly through research processes. This transparency fosters trust and shows that science is not abstract, it is a practical tool that drives measurable health impact across the country,” he concludes.