From 19 to 23 October 2026, EP PerMed representatives visited Cape Town, South Africa, to explore the country’s growing personalised medicine ecosystem and exchange experiences with local researchers, innovators and funding organisations. Hosted by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), the visit coincided with celebrations marking ten years of precision medicine initiatives in South Africa.
Exploring South Africa’s Personalised Medicine Ecosystem
The visit was the third in a series of EP PerMed in-situ visits, following previous exchanges in Stockholm (Sweden) and Brno (Czech Republic). These visits aim to facilitate knowledge exchange, explore different approaches to personalised medicine and strengthen collaboration between research and innovation ecosystems.
South Africa has made significant investments in developing personalised medicine, with the SAMRC and the Department of Science and Innovation driving national initiatives since 2016. These efforts aim to advance research and innovation across the entire value chain, addressing major healthcare challenges such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and infectious diseases, including HIV and tuberculosis. The SAMRC, which joined EP PerMed as a partner in 2025, plays an important role in these developments and in international collaboration through the International Consortium for Personalised Medicine (ICPerMed).
Research Infrastructure and Innovation in Practice
The EP PerMed delegation visited several leading research institutions and facilities in Cape Town, gaining insights into the infrastructure, technologies and collaborative approaches supporting personalised medicine in South Africa. Among the institutions visited were the Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR), the SAMRC Genomics Centre and the Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) at Stellenbosch University, including its biobanking facilities, Rare Disease Unit and Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI). Further visits included the University of Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital and specialised cardiovascular genetics research facilities.
The visits provided an opportunity to explore how genomic research, advanced diagnostics, biobanking and clinical research contribute to developing more precise and effective approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Aligning Research Funding and Celebrating Ten Years of Precision Medicine
The programme also included participation in the 6th Africa Health Research and Innovation Funders Forum (AHRIFF), held from 19 to 21 October. Under the theme “The need for alignment!”, the forum brought together research funders, policymakers and innovators to discuss how better coordination, shared priorities and collaborative financing can strengthen health research and innovation across Africa.
On 22 and 23 October, the delegation participated in the Precision Medicine in South Africa 10-Year Celebration and Strategic Symposium, marking a decade of efforts to establish and advance personalised medicine in the country. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on progress and discuss strategic directions for the future.
Strengthening International Cooperation
The visit highlighted the importance of international knowledge exchange and collaboration in advancing personalised medicine. While healthcare systems face different challenges, many of the underlying priorities are shared: building sustainable research infrastructures, translating scientific discoveries into clinical practice and improving access to innovative healthcare.
By connecting European and South African researchers, research funders and other stakeholders, the visit contributed to EP PerMed’s objective of strengthening international cooperation and supporting the implementation of personalised medicine.
