South Africa: World's Largest Research Funder Lifts Ban On South Africa
[GroundUp] Many clinical trials were halted, and many researchers were retrenched when the NIH stopped funding
The United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) has rescinded its ban on South Africa, nearly 18 months after imposing the restriction that halted numerous clinical trials and led to the termination of many researchers. The memo signed by NIH director Jay Bhattacharya on 17 August states that funding for meritorious research projects in South Africa may proceed, distinguishing NIH grants from traditional foreign aid.
The decision, announced on 12 January 2025, follows 12 months of negotiations between South Africa and the NIH to reverse their stance. Experts, including Ntobeko Ntusi, president and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council, welcome the reversal as it prevents South Africa from losing decades of investments in research infrastructure and the global health policies that have been shaped from these efforts.
Linda-Gail Bekker, director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, expressed optimism but noted that the SAMRC had to raise around R600-million in rescue funds to support affected research projects. U.S. public health expert Landon Myer cautioned that while the memo is a positive step, it remains to be seen if the NIH's bureaucratic capacity will recover to support the previously funded research.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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