Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) (R35 - Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 26 121

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 26 121

The Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) (R35 - Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) designed to support an individual investigator's research program through a single, consolidated award rather than multiple project-specific grants. The core idea is to provide steadier, more predictable funding for investigators working within the NIGMS scientific mission, so they can pursue bigger and more creative scientific questions, adjust direction when new results or opportunities emerge, and spend less time constantly preparing and re-preparing traditional grant applications. By emphasizing program-level support instead of narrowly defined, pre-set aims, MIRA is meant to let investigators follow the science as it unfolds while still staying aligned with NIGMS priorities.

A major goal of the program is to increase funding stability for NIGMS-supported investigators. In practice, that stability is intended to make it easier for labs to take on ambitious or higher-risk projects that may not fit neatly into rigid, aim-by-aim proposals. At the same time, the award is structured to provide flexibility: investigators are not expected to be locked into a strict set of specific aims for the entire project period, and they can pivot toward important new directions that remain within the NIGMS mission. Another explicit program aim is to spread resources more broadly across the community of highly talented and promising investigators, with the expectation that distributing support in this way can increase overall scientific productivity and improve the odds of major breakthroughs.

The MIRA initiative also targets the workload that comes with the traditional grant system. It is intended to reduce the time researchers spend writing and reviewing multiple grant applications and to cut down the administrative overhead that comes from managing several separate NIGMS research awards at once. By consolidating support into a single mechanism, the program aims to free up investigators to focus more on conducting research and mentoring. NIGMS specifically highlights mentoring as a benefit of a more stable funding environment, because it can allow principal investigators to devote more time and energy to training and supporting junior scientists.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications from two main groups: eligible investigators who are already funded by NIGMS and new investigators proposing research that aligns with the NIGMS scientific mission. It also allows renewal applications from current MIRA grantees, including those who originally received MIRA support as Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs). However, current ESIs are directed to apply through the separate ESI MIRA NOFO rather than this one, so eligibility depends on an applicant's career stage and current funding status as defined in the NOFO's eligibility section.

On the "clinical trial optional" point, the funding opportunity is set up so that a proposed project may include a clinical trial if scientifically appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required. In other words, applicants are not forced into a clinical trial framework; it is permitted when it fits the research plan and the NIGMS mission.

The opportunity has important restrictions related to foreign involvement. Foreign organizations (non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. At the same time, "foreign components" as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, which typically refers to certain types of substantive work conducted outside the U.S. under defined conditions. The most significant constraint is NIH's policy change effective May 1, 2025: NIH will no longer issue awards that involve foreign subawards or subcontracts, whether the prime recipient is domestic or foreign. That means any application under this NOFO that includes foreign subawards/subcontracts is considered noncompliant and will not be reviewed for funding. This restriction applies to monetary international collaborations that would require a foreign subaward or subcontract, but it does not prohibit unfunded international collaborations, allowable foreign components (as defined by NIH), payments to foreign consultants, or purchasing specialized equipment or supplies from foreign vendors.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health category under CFDA 93.859. It is listed as PAR-26-121, with an original closing date of May 26, 2028 (as provided in the source data). Eligible applicant organizations include a wide range of U.S.-based entities such as state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, certain nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, among others. While these organizational types may apply, the program is fundamentally geared toward supporting individual investigators leading research programs that fit within the NIGMS mission and meet the NOFO's specific eligibility rules.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) (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 2025-12-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-05-26.
• 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.

Apply for PAR 26 121

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: