Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena delivering the keynote address at the SAMI launch earlier this year.

The launch of the South African Malaria Initiative (SAMI) initiative by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena, at the University of Pretoria in February this year emphasised the need for wide ranging partnerships to launch a determined attack on poverty and ill-health to staunch the spread of the disease.

"This ground-breaking initiative is exactly what we need. The combination of advanced science, access to our unique South African biodiversity and clinical research engagement with malaria patients offers hope for South Africa to make its mark on this devastating disease", according to Mangena.

SAMI is a national consortium of researchers working together to harness their expertise to address malaria through research. The launch was attended by representatives from the national Department of Science and Technology, Medical Research Council, African Centre for Gene Technologies (ACGT) and SAMI members, as well as a group of young black scientists who were given an opportunity to meet and interact with the Minister after his address.

The Minister acknowledged Prof Braam Louw of the University of Pretoria, who is a contributor to the ACGT - as "the father of SAMI, for actively pursuing his dream to nurture and develop a world-class programme on malaria research in South Africa".

The Department of Science and Technology has committed R11.5 million over the next two-and-a-half years to support the SAMI collaborative research programmes. Medium to long term offerings and outcomes of the initiative - between now and 2010 - include the development of one new diagnostic assay, validation of at least one new drug target and new methods for the detection of P falciparum in mosquito salivary glands.

UP Vice Chancellor, Prof Callie Pistorius, also expressed confidence in the SAMI network of scientists to increase the capacity in malaria research and improve the prevention and control of the disease.

SAMI's three major research programmes include the discovery of new drug targets and lead molecules, the development of robust rapid malaria diagnostic tests, and improved molecular epidemiology and understanding of the parasite-vector interaction.

Find more information about SAMI at www.acgt.co.za/sami