Background on the establishment of CARISA

CARISA (Cancer Research Initiative of South Africa) was proposed at a historic workshop held at the SAMRC (South African Medical Research Council) in 2004 and attended by cancer researchers and research administrators. Presentations presented at the workshop include: 

• Science and Technology Interventions in Health Innovations (pdf format, 89 kb)
• Overview of the South African Cancer Research Environment as a basis for discussion concerning the activation of CARISA
  • Presentation (pdf format, 546 kb)
• Document (pdf format, 415 kb)
• CARISA - an informatics and knowledge management application (pdf format, 108 kb)

Following this workshop, the CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa) and the SAMRC entered into a Memorandum of Agreement in July 2005 which formalise the establishment of CARISA whose aim it is to promote, coordinate and facilitate cancer research and cancer-related research in South Africa.

The mandate given to CARISA at the founding meeting is:

‘To improve the health status of South Africa by promoting a national, comprehensive and sustainable cancer research strategy and programme that will build capacity and knowledge in the areas of primary and secondary prevention, treatment, palliation and monitoring.’

Subsequent to this, a meeting was convened with researchers in the field of cancer on the 23rd of August 2006 by the CARISA Steering Committee where the main trust of CARISA was debated. From this meeting, the CARISA Strategic Plan 2007-2010 was developed. This plan describes how the CARSIA will deliver on this mandate by promoting and conducting relevant and responsive cancer and cancer-related research to improve the health and well-being of the nation.

CARISA call for research proposals
CARISA has R1 million rand available for focused research in cervical cancer. Research applications are awaited in any of the areas as indicated in the “Call for Research Proposals” on the CARISA website. The CARISA Cervical Cancer Strategy would inform prospective researchers about the specific research needs that have been identified through a consultative process.

Medical Research Council of South Africa

Cancer Association of South Africa