First joint request for applications between ANRS MIE and SAMRC

Why did you choose tuberculosis for this joint request for applications?

FA et YY : Tuberculosis research has made great strides, particularly in terms of transmission mechanisms, new therapeutic methods and the impact of genetic variations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis on resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs, but the main obstacle to further progress is the shortage of funding for tuberculosis research. Some French researchers, notably those involved in the Action Coordonnée Tuberculose created by ANRS MIE, have developed solid expertise in tuberculosis research, whether clinical, fundamental or translational, and wished to bring this to bear on the expertise of South African researchers, who have a wealth of experience in tuberculosis research, particularly in a context of international collaboration.

SAMRC also wanted to include France in its network of international research collaborations on tuberculosis, which is one of their top priorities. Indeed, tuberculosis continues to be a major global health problem. Every year, more than 10 million people develop tuberculosis disease, and in 2022, tuberculosis was the cause of 1.3 million deaths worldwide (WHO, TB Global Report 2023).

Tuberculosis-HIV co-infection is associated with severe forms of tuberculosis and increased mortality in TB patients. South Africa is an upper-middle-income country, marked by extreme income inequality, where the population of people living with HIV is estimated at 7.8 million (13% of the population), and only 5.4 million are on antiretroviral treatment. In South Africa, 300,000 new cases of tuberculosis are diagnosed every year, the incidence is among the highest in the world (468/100,000 in 2022), and tuberculosis is the leading cause of mortality due to an infectious agent.

Strengthening collaboration to address this global problem is one way of advancing research and improving people’s health.

How were the scientific priorities for the RFA defined?

FA et YY :

First, ANRS MIE and SAMRC management agreed on a maximum amount for the call for projects and for each project, so as to align project feasibility and research themes. We held initial internal as well as joint scoping discussions, then brought South African and French scientists together online to share opinions, identify gaps and specify needs. Taking into account these discussions, we concluded that the following themes could create real research synergies between South African and French teams while advancing our knowledge in key priority areas:

vaccines;
immunity markers;
determinants of subclinical tuberculosis: pathogenesis, transmission, prevention, treatment, and surveillance;
diagnostics

Each project we finance under this RFA must focus on these major themes (the detailed priorities of the RFA are attached to this article), for a duration of 3 years, and above all be led by 1 French Principal Investigator and 1 South African Principal Investigator, as the aim is to encourage value add collaborations.

What do you expect from this joint request for applications? What are the prospects for this collaboration?

FA et YY : First and foremost, to advance research on TB, but also to establish a lasting partnership between French and South African research teams and institutions, which could later be extended to other areas besides TB. Through this initiative, we hope to:

discover new vaccine candidates and new routes of administration;
advance our understanding of subclinical TB: mode of transmission; how to assess its prevalence and incidence in key South African populations such as people living with HIV and people suffering from malnutrition (10% of households); what are the therapeutic strategies for prevention and treatment, etc.;
develop new screening and diagnostic tests, and drug susceptibility tests that are cheaper and more rapid (a phenotypic test for bedaquiline resistance currently takes 28 days to obtain the result).

This RFA, undertaken through a memorandum of understanding between the organizations, is the first in what we foresee as a series of collaborations, aimed at continuing to bring teams from our two countries closer together. We are convinced that Franco-South African collaborative research has a bright future ahead.

Find out more about scientific priorities

This RFA will be open to funding applications for research projects in the following priority areas:

Epidemiology, pathogenesis, transmission and management of sub-clinical TB;
Identification of biomarkers for disease progression and the development of novel diagnostics based thereon;
Development of rapid diagnostic tools for evaluating drug resistance and for precision medicine in the management of TB;
Development of new vaccine strategies, including new candidates to fill the vaccine development pipeline and strategies for feasibility and implementation of new vaccines that come onto the market;
Evaluation of new drugs or shortened regimens, especially for pediatric populations.

Scientific priorities of the joint RFA .docx 29 KB

In practical

A joint budget of 3 million euros has been earmarked for this RFA.

This RFA is open until October, 31^st 2024.

Visit the page dedicated to this RFA to find out more, submit your project and get in touch with South African researchers.

More about joint RFA

About

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) was founded in 1969 with the mission of improving the health of South Africans through rigorous research, development, innovation and technology transfer. SAMRC conducts and funds in-depth research in a variety of fields, including laboratory investigations, clinical trials and public health studies.

Much of SAMRC’s effort is devoted to addressing the quadruple burden of disease in South Africa, which includes:

Maternal, newborn and child health.
HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB).
Non-communicable diseases.
Interpersonal violence.

SAMRC’s research aims to generate evidence-based information to guide health policy and practice, thereby improving the health and quality of life of the South African population.

As the main local funder of health research in South Africa, SAMRC supports a wide range of initiatives, including medical diagnostics, devices and therapeutics. The organization is at the forefront of supporting medical innovation, particularly in genomic research, the development of new treatment regimens, vaccine development and the creation of new diagnostic tools, drugs and devices.

Transformation is a key priority for SAMRC, essential to building sustainable health research capacity in South Africa. This commitment is reflected in several programs and initiatives designed to foster diversity and inclusion, such as the Self-Initiated Research (SIR) grants, the Mid-Career Scientist program and the Bongani Mayosi National Health Fellowship Program. These initiatives address gender, racial, institutional and geographic disparities, ensuring a robust and inclusive research environment.

As the guardian of health research in South Africa, SAMRC is dedicated to building a healthier nation through continuous research and innovation.

ANRS Emerging infectious diseases, founded on January 1, 2021, is an autonomous agency of Inserm whose missions are to facilitate, evaluate, coordinate, and fund research into HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, and emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (emerging respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, viral hemorrhagic fevers, arboviruses…).

Under the authority of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of Health and Prevention, and directed by Prof. Yazdan Yazdanpanah, ANRS Emerging infectious diseases covers all areas of research: fundamental, clinical, public health, human and social sciences, placing the emphasis on innovation and the strengthening of international partnerships.

With its One Health approach focused on human health, animal health and human impact on the environment, the agency is preparing a response to the scientific challenges presented by emerging diseases and for the deployment of that response in times of crisis.

The agency federates and facilitates a number of national and international networks of researchers and doctors employed by the principal research organizations, universities, hospitals, and associations. Patient associations and civil society representatives have a prominent place within the organization of ANRS Emerging infectious diseases.