Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 145
The Maximizing Investigators Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (ESI) is an NIH grant opportunity from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) that supports an early stage investigator's overall research program rather than a single narrowly defined project. Under this notice of funding opportunity (PAR-23-145), the idea of a "program of research" is meant to capture the set of related projects running in an investigator's laboratory that align with the NIGMS mission. The emphasis is on giving an early career lab stable, flexible support to pursue a coherent scientific direction, adjust aims as results emerge, and reduce the administrative and scientific inefficiencies that can come from managing multiple separate awards. The mechanism is an R35, and clinical trials are optional, meaning the proposed research program may include clinical trial components if appropriate, but it is not required.
A key purpose of the MIRA program is to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of NIGMS funding. In practice, this typically means supporting investigators in a way that encourages long-term productivity, scientific creativity, and responsible risk-taking, while also reducing the time spent writing and administering many smaller grants. For early stage investigators, this structure is intended to help with the transition to independence by providing predictable support that can cover a broader range of related activities within the lab, as long as those activities stay within NIGMS scientific priorities.
Eligibility to apply is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many common applicant types such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city or township, special districts), as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The opportunity also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and certain tribal governments and tribal organizations.
At the same time, there are important limits related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. This distinction generally means that while the applicant organization must be eligible and based domestically, specific parts of the research can involve foreign collaborations or activities when properly justified and structured as foreign components under NIH policy.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under the NIH, in the health funding category, with CFDA number 93.859. The listed award ceiling is $275,000. The original closing date shown for the opportunity is 2026-02-03. Overall, the opportunity is designed for early stage investigators building an independent laboratory program that fits NIGMS priorities, with a funding structure that prioritizes flexibility, program-level impact, and reduced administrative burden compared with multiple project-specific awards.Apply for PAR 23 145
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Maximizing Investigators Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (ESI) (R35 - Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-04-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-02-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $275,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
The Maximizing Investigators Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (ESI) is an NIH funding opportunity from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). It uses the R35 mechanism and is described under notice of funding opportunity PAR-23-145.
2) What is the main goal of the MIRA for ESIs?
The main goal is to provide stable and flexible support for an early stage investigator's overall research program rather than funding one narrowly defined project. The program is designed to support a coherent scientific direction, allow investigators to adjust aims as results emerge, and reduce inefficiencies associated with managing multiple separate awards.
3) What does NIGMS mean by a "program of research" in this opportunity?
In this opportunity, a "program of research" refers to the set of related projects running in an investigator's laboratory that align with the NIGMS mission. The intent is to capture the broader, connected body of work in the lab rather than isolating support to a single project.
4) Is this award tied to a single project with fixed aims?
No. A central feature of this MIRA is that it supports an investigator's broader program, with an emphasis on flexibility. The structure is meant to let the lab pursue a coherent direction and adjust aims as findings develop over time.
5) What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The mechanism is an NIH R35 award.
6) Are clinical trials required?
No. Clinical trials are optional. The proposed research program may include clinical trial components if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required.
7) What kinds of investigators is this opportunity designed for?
This opportunity is specifically aimed at Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) who are building an independent laboratory program that fits within NIGMS scientific priorities.
8) How does the MIRA approach differ from applying for multiple smaller grants?
The MIRA approach is intended to reduce administrative and scientific inefficiencies that can come from writing, managing, and coordinating multiple separate awards. It is structured to support long-term productivity, scientific creativity, and responsible risk-taking with more predictable and flexible program-level support.
9) What is NIGMS trying to improve through the MIRA program?
A key purpose is to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of NIGMS funding. In practice, this typically includes encouraging long-term productivity and creativity while reducing the time investigators spend writing and administering many smaller grants.
10) What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city or township, special districts). It also includes independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
11) Are minority-serving institutions specifically included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly highlights eligibility for several categories, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
12) Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations among the eligible applicant categories.
13) Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligible applicant categories include certain tribal governments and tribal organizations.
14) Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly included among eligible applicant categories.
15) Can a non-U.S. (foreign) organization apply as the applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization for this opportunity.
16) Can a non-U.S. component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
17) Are foreign collaborations allowed at all?
Yes. While non-U.S. entities cannot apply as the applicant, foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. This generally means a domestically eligible applicant may include appropriately justified foreign collaborations or activities when structured as foreign components under NIH policy.
18) What funding category does this opportunity fall under?
It is listed under the health funding category.
19) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 93.859.
20) What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $275,000.
21) What is the closing date shown for the opportunity?
The original closing date shown is 2026-02-03.
22) What is the administering NIH institute for this opportunity?
The opportunity is from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) at the NIH.
23) Is this considered a discretionary grant opportunity?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity under the NIH.
24) What is the intended benefit of this award structure for early stage investigators?
For ESIs, the structure is intended to support the transition to independence by providing predictable support that can cover a broader range of related activities within the lab, as long as those activities stay within NIGMS scientific priorities.
25) Does the research program have to align with NIGMS priorities?
Yes. The "program of research" is described as a set of related projects that align with the NIGMS mission, and the opportunity is designed for programs that fit NIGMS scientific priorities.
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