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

The Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA), offered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), represents a significant evolution in research funding strategy. The program aims to consolidate support for an investigator’s entire research program under a single grant. This strategic shift enhances funding stability, encourages innovative and flexible research directions, and reduces administrative burdens for investigators, allowing them to devote more time to conducting research and mentoring junior scientists. This particular Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), PAR-26-121, is a reissue of PAR-22-180 and is open to eligible existing NIGMS investigators and New Investigators whose research aligns with NIGMS's scientific mission. Early-Stage Investigators must apply through a separate NOFO specifically designed for them. MIRA supports basic biomedical research that furthers understanding of biological processes and lays the groundwork for medical advances. It also funds clinical studies in defined areas such as anesthesiology, perioperative pain, clinical pharmacology, sepsis, wound healing, and critical illness. The overarching objective is to encourage ambitious, longer-term research with the flexibility to adapt as new scientific opportunities arise. Unlike traditional grant mechanisms that fund specific aims, MIRA allows for shifts in research focus as long as the overall work remains within the NIGMS mission. The program does not support clinical trials aimed at treatment efficacy or regulatory approvals but allows mechanistic clinical trials essential to the overarching research program. Applications may be submitted by a wide array of institutions including higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profits (including small businesses), and various levels of government. However, foreign organizations and subawards to foreign entities are not eligible under this NOFO. Foreign components are permitted under certain circumstances. Each Principal Investigator (PI) must commit a minimum of 45% research effort and will be restricted from holding concurrent NIGMS research grants (such as R01s) during the MIRA award period. Awards are anticipated to be commensurate with an investigator’s historical NIGMS funding, typically up to $750,000 in annual direct costs, with New Investigators generally receiving $275,000 annually. Project periods can extend up to five years. Applications are accepted on a recurring basis with deadlines on January 27 and May 27 of each year until May 27, 2028. The next open submission date is December 27, 2025, with the first application due date on January 27, 2026. These applications undergo scientific merit review followed by council review before an award decision. The earliest project start dates occur in December 2026 and follow similar quarterly cycles in subsequent years. The program does not require a pre-application such as a Letter of Intent or Concept Paper for submission. Applications must be submitted electronically via NIH ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institution's system-to-system interface. Submission must adhere strictly to the NIH Application Guide, and failure to comply will result in disqualification. Notably, the application must exclude a Specific Aims page and cannot include detailed experimental plans. Instead, applicants are expected to provide a research overview that includes past achievements, current challenges, and future directions. MIRA does not support applications pending review under other NIGMS research grant programs to avoid overlap. Applicants are encouraged to contact the program office prior to submission for guidance and to ensure program alignment. The main contact email for scientific/research inquiries is NIGMS_EINIMIRA@nigms.nih.gov. For financial questions, the email MIRA-FINANCIAL@nigms.nih.gov is available. This NOFO provides a unique opportunity for researchers to simplify their funding streams while enabling more creative and impactful science under the flexible framework of the MIRA model.

Do not include a Specific Aims page—this will lead to administrative withdrawal.