Pharma firm commits R1,5 million to research

14 Mar 2016

With modern day illnesses like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and smoking-related illnesses becoming increasingly prevalent, South Africa, and the African continent, is sitting on a non-communicable disease time bomb that it is ill equipped to fight.

Dr Jas Bhana (3rd from the right) with the 2015/2016 AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals recipients

Funding another seven research projects

With a shortage of quality scientific data to properly manage and treat these potentially life-threatening diseases, the requirement for funding to develop research capacity has never been greater. In response to this unmet need, the AstraZeneca Research Trust has awarded another seven local grants totalling R1.5 million for the 2015/2016 year. This brings to 18 the total number of research grants conferred locally by the trust since its inception.

Independent assessment

An independent non-profit body set up in 2014 for the disbursement of R4,5 million for medical research funding over three years, to date the trust has allocated R3 million of this commitment. Managed by a scientific steering committee consisting of six highly respected academics from various institutions around the country, AstraZeneca has no influence in any decisions made regarding the fund allocation.

The grants are awarded solely at the discretion of the professors who screen, review and ultimately with full autonomy, decide on the apportionment of the funding. With literally hundreds of applications received, all worthy of consideration, the committee has been severely challenged in narrowing down the final selections.

Three universities benefit

The 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 researchers who have been successful in their applications, represent three academic institutions, including the University of Witwatersrand, University of Cape Town and University of KwaZulu-Natal. A diverse spectrum of research across different disease areas has been approved, some of which is already well underway.

Dr Jas Bhana, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals vice president: medical and regulatory SA & SSA, speaking at the 2015/2016 Research Trust Awards evening, says that it’s hoped the academic research grants, conferred for high level non-interventional studies, including doctoral and post-doctoral work, will generate much needed data in the area of non-communicable diseases, where currently significant data is not available.