NIH Lifts Funding Freeze on South African Research Projects After Trump-Era Ban

• The US National Institutes of Health reversed its ban on funding new research projects in South Africa, citing a key classification distinction
• South African Medical Research Council CEO Ntobeko Ntusi responded to the NIH decision, calling it a critical moment for scientific collaboration
• One major exception remains in place for South African scientists despite the broader policy shift

SOUTH AFRICA — The United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) has reversed its freeze on new research funding for South Africa, lifting a restriction that had been imposed under a 2025 executive order by the Trump administration.

The reversal was confirmed through an internal NIH memo released by Director Jay Bhattacharya, who clarified that research grants fall under a separate classification from foreign aid or assistance programmes. As a result, new research proposals submitted by South African institutions can now advance through standard review processes.

Medical community welcomes NIH decision

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South African Medical Research Council CEO Ntobeko Ntusi described the development as a vital opportunity to rebuild scientific collaboration and close the significant funding gaps that opened when the initial aid freeze took effect.

However, according to the report by BusinessTech, the resumption of funding is not without conditions. The Fogarty International Centre will no longer process new research applications or fund training programmes for South African scientists. The reason given is South Africa's classification as an upper-middle-income nation and its membership of the G20.

Diplomatic tensions still shape the relationship

The original freeze was part of a broader realignment in US-South Africa relations, driven by Pretoria's decision to bring a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and its continued diplomatic engagement with Iran.

The US has outlined five areas where it expects South Africa to shift its position as a condition for improving bilateral standing. These include greater focus on protecting rural communities from violence, public condemnation of rhetoric that incites hatred, clear compensation standards in land expropriation law, reform of mandatory black economic empowerment ownership requirements, and an end to strategic partnerships with state adversaries, including Iran.

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South Africa has not moved on any of these positions, meaning broader political and trade negotiations between the two countries remain cautious. The US Senate recently voted to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), but the wider trade relationship continues to carry significant uncertainty as Washington and Pretoria navigate their differences.

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Source: Briefly News