Call for nominations: SAMRC Scientific Merit Awards

Cape Town | The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) is seeking nominations for the 2019 SAMRC Scientific Merit Awards, which are held in recognition of impactful science and health research aimed at advancing the lives of South Africans.

Six years ago, after  identifying the need to acknowledge and honour health scientists whose work has made an indelible impact in South African science and health research, the SAMRC re-ignited the SAMRC Scientific Merit Awards to recognise world-class science.

Scientists who have achieved a lifetime of outstanding endeavours in the field of health are conferred Platinum medals for a Lifetime Achievement Award. Past recipients include the late Professor Bongani Mayosi, Professors Valerie Mizrahi, Salim Abdool Karim, Dan Stein, Gregory Hussey, Robin Wood Shabir Madhi, Eric Bateman, Maureen Coetzee and Professor Charles Feldman.

Gold medals are awarded annually to established senior scientists who have made seminal scientific contributions that have impacted on the health of people, especially those living in developing countries. Silver medals are awarded to scientists who have made important scientific contributions in the country with an emphasis on capacity development. Special awards are conferred to scientists who have made an exceptional life-long contribution to medical research, these are conferred at the discretion of the presiding SAMRC President. Recipients of this sought after award have included Professors Zena Stein, Jimmy Volmink, Carl Lombard, Linda Richter, Anthony Fauci, Hoosen Jerry Coovadia, Paul Van Helden, Lucille Blumberg and former SAMRC President Professor Malegapuru William Makgoba.

Each category of the Awards will include a monetary value that will be offered to the primary organisation which with the award winner is affiliated. Platinum award winners and affiliated institution will receive R50 000, while Gold award value is R25 000 and Silver award is R10 000.

Eligible candidates for all categories of the SAMRC Scientific Merit Awards will be identified through an open, public nomination process, as well as an SAMRC Awards Nominations Committee. Winners of the awards will be announced at the SAMRC 50^th anniversary gala dinner to be held at the CSIR Convention Centre on 7 November 2019.

Nominations are currently open and will close on 31 July 2019

For more information on the nomination process visit: http://www.mrc.ac.za/content/samrc-scientific-merit-awards