The South African Medical Research Council and University of Cape Town have launched a new Extramural Research Unit focused on applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to African population health, aiming to enhance disease detection, risk prediction, and clinical management across the continent.
Launch of the AI for African Population Health Unit
The newly established South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and University of Cape Town (UCT) AI for African Population Health Unit has officially begun operations. Commissioned to conduct strategic health research, the division is located at the Computational Biology Division within the Faculty of Health Sciences. The launch forms part of a broader expansion by the SAMRC, which officially launched seven new extramural research units on 28 July according to the reporting outlet, bringing its total count of extramural research divisions to 30.
Professor Nicola Mulder, who brings extensive experience in data-driven science and capacity development, leads the new UCT-based unit. Alongside the AI-focused initiative, a second UCT-based division—the SAMRC / UCT Discovery Neuroscience in Children: Advancing Understanding and Treatment of Acute Brain Conditions Unit—was also established during the same launch cycle.
Targeting Non-Communicable and Infectious Diseases
The primary objective of the newly formed unit is to develop, test, and apply artificial intelligence and machine learning tools specifically tailored to African population health contexts. By creating a framework for integrating multimodal data, researchers plan to address local health challenges using comprehensive African biomedical and clinical datasets. The initiative seeks to improve early detection of prevalent non-communicable diseases in South Africa, such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, while simultaneously enhancing the diagnosis and clinical management of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria.
“The main aim of this proposal is to develop, test and apply artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) tools tailored to African population health contexts and create a framework for the integration of multimodal data and the application of AI to address local health challenges.”
Professor Nicola Mulder, Head of the SAMRC / UCT AI for African Population Health Unit
Researchers intend to use these state-of-the-art techniques to uncover disease mechanisms, analyze interactions between infectious and non-communicable conditions, and support personalized therapeutic choices for diverse patients across various healthcare settings. Professor Mulder noted that her division has access to significant computing facilities at UCT required to process the intensive data demands of the work.
Interdisciplinary Training and Capacity Building
Beyond immediate data analysis and disease profiling, the unit places heavy emphasis on training postgraduate students and developing interdisciplinary skills. The educational framework specifically focuses on supporting previously disadvantaged students and incorporating the ethics of artificial intelligence to ensure responsible and ethical application.
“It will train postgraduate students to develop interdisciplinary skills, with a focus on previously disadvantaged students. It will also look at the ethics of AI to ensure responsible and ethical use.”
Professor Nicola Mulder, Head of the SAMRC / UCT AI for African Population Health Unit
Mid-career scientists Dr. Musalula Sinkala and Dr. Hocine Bendou form part of the core team, contributing specialized research focused on applying data science to biomedical questions. The unit also draws on broader UCT expertise in biomedical imaging, proteomics, and ethics through collaborators at the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine.
Broader Regional Research and Funding Initiatives
The launch of the UCT unit coincides with wider health systems research developments across South African academic institutions. For instance, the Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division at the University of KwaZulu-Natal has announced fully funded doctoral scholarships for 2027 tied to the Horizon Europe-funded Community-Based Scaling of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Management research project as detailed in academic opportunity listings. That initiative focuses on strengthening community-based prevention, early detection, and management of cardiovascular disease among populations living with HIV and tuberculosis in Lesotho, offering annual funding valued at R214,000 per year.
At the same time, legal scholars point out that the rapid expansion of digital health tools and artificial intelligence in South Africa continues to outpace existing regulatory frameworks. Studies examining the Protection of Personal Information Act and the National Health Act highlight that current legislation contains significant gaps regarding the regulation of AI-driven tools, third-party data sharing, and cross-border transfers of sensitive medical and mental health data.
