Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF)

Africa shoulders a crippling share of the world’s disease burden and millions of lives are lost prematurely due to poor health and disease. In addition to the heavy cost to human life, the toll caused by disease is also holding back the continent’s economic development – a healthy population has a positive impact on the economy of a country.

Achieving better health needs more outstanding African-led health research, and better translation of that research into healthcare policy and practice.

The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) was established by the UK Medical Research Foundation to invest in talented, emerging researchers in Africa. We nurture sub-Sahara African health research at its most vulnerable points by supporting and developing early-career researchers.

Our vision is growing the community of African researchers who will deliver excellent research in Africa, for Africa.

Growing the next generation of potential research leaders will help institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa increase their capability to carry out excellent research. This will help inform health care practitioners and policy makers, and ultimately will benefit patients and populations across the continent and globally.

With your support, we will improve health and save lives in Africa.