Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) (R35 - Clinical Trial Optional)

The Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA), administered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is a specialized funding mechanism intended to support individual investigators engaged in basic biomedical research aligned with the mission of NIGMS. This funding opportunity, issued under announcement number PAR-26-121, represents a reissue of PAR-22-180. MIRA consolidates existing and prospective NIGMS research support into a single award, thereby enhancing funding stability, scientific productivity, and administrative efficiency for qualified researchers. The primary objective of MIRA is to allow investigators greater flexibility to pursue new research directions, take on more ambitious projects, and reduce the burden of managing multiple grants. MIRA offers significant advantages compared to traditional NIH R01 grants, including longer project periods (up to five years), higher renewal rates, and a simplified application and administration process. By focusing on the investigator's entire research program instead of specific project aims, MIRA facilitates a more dynamic and adaptive research environment. It enables PDs/PIs to explore innovative concepts and to rapidly pivot when new scientific opportunities arise, as long as the research remains within NIGMS’s scientific mission. This model supports both new and established investigators, though Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) must apply under a separate ESI MIRA NOFO. The scope of research supported by MIRA includes foundational biological processes and select clinical research areas such as anesthesiology, perioperative pain, sepsis, wound healing, clinical pharmacology, and inflammation. Mechanistic clinical trials are allowed if they are directly tied to understanding basic biological processes. However, trials aimed at safety or efficacy testing, as well as clinical dissemination, implementation, or pragmatic trials, are not permitted. Applicants are also expected to devote at least 45% of their research effort to the MIRA award, and MIRA will generally replace other concurrent NIGMS research support, with specific exceptions. Eligible applicants include individuals with a current NIGMS-funded R01-equivalent or MIRA award. New investigators not currently funded by NIGMS are also eligible to apply, but they must not be project leaders on multi-component NIH awards, with limited exceptions. Applicant organizations must be registered with SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. Applications must be submitted electronically via ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system platform. Applications are accepted biannually on fixed dates: January 27 and May 27 (or May 26 if May 27 is a weekend), through May 2028. Awards are made based on scientific merit, budget availability, and strategic priorities of NIGMS. Funding requests for established investigators may not exceed $750,000 in direct costs per year and are typically calibrated to prior NIGMS support levels. New investigators typically receive $275,000 annually. Equipment costs are only allowed in the first year, and MIRA budgets generally remain stable across the project period. The award mechanism is a grant, with applications accepted for new, renewal, and revision types. Although clinical trials are optional, they must fit specific parameters outlined by NIGMS. The evaluation process includes peer review, followed by advisory council review, with award decisions expected three to six months post-deadline. Contact information for application support and scientific queries is provided, with specialized emails for financial and programmatic inquiries.