Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 27 032
The Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (ESI) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity designed to support early career scientists whose research programs align with the mission of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). The core idea behind MIRA is to invest in promising investigators across the country in a way that strengthens overall scientific output and increases the odds of major advances. Instead of narrowly funding a single, highly specific project, the program emphasizes supporting an investigator's broader program of research, giving early stage researchers room to grow, adapt, and pursue the most compelling directions their work reveals.
A major aim of this award is to help ESIs secure independent research funding early enough to launch and sustain a strong research career. The opportunity is structured to encourage scientific independence while also providing a stable environment that can help investigators build momentum in their labs. With this stability, recipients are positioned to pursue ambitious and creative work, including higher-risk ideas that may be harder to fund through more restrictive mechanisms. The award also explicitly supports flexibility, allowing investigators to shift emphasis over time, incorporate emerging techniques and technologies, and explore new or unconventional areas, as long as the overall research program remains within the NIGMS mission.
The program also highlights the practical, day-to-day benefits of stable funding for a developing lab. By reducing the constant pressure of chasing multiple short-term awards, MIRA is intended to free up time and attention for mentoring and training students and other trainees. This focus on mentorship reflects the broader goal of strengthening the biomedical research workforce by supporting environments where trainees can develop in well-supported, well-led labs.
In terms of who can apply, the opportunity is open to a wide range of U.S.-based applicant organizations, including various levels of government (state, county, city or township, and special district governments), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, other Native American tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other eligible entities. Specific investigator eligibility is tied to Early Stage Investigator status and other criteria described in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), so applicants are expected to consult the Eligibility section of the NOFO for the precise requirements.
Foreign participation is handled in a specific way. While non-U.S. institutions themselves are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition of a foreign component. In other words, a U.S.-based applicant can include certain international elements in the proposed work when appropriate, but non-domestic entities (foreign institutions) and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply directly as the applicant.
Administratively, this opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant under Funding Opportunity Number PAR 27 032, within the health funding activity category, and is associated with CFDA number 93.859. The listed original closing date is February 6, 2029. The source listing does not provide an award ceiling or an expected number of awards, which typically means applicants should rely on the NOFO and NIH guidance for details on budget expectations, project period, and the anticipated level of competition.Apply for PAR 27 032
- 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)" 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 2026-05-12.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2029-02-06.
- 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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FAQs: Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (ESI)
What is the MIRA for Early Stage Investigators (ESI)?
The Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (ESI) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity that supports early career scientists whose research programs align with the mission of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS).
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The primary goal is to invest in promising early stage investigators in a way that strengthens overall scientific output and increases the chances of major advances. It is also designed to help ESIs secure independent research funding early enough to launch and sustain a strong research career.
How is MIRA different from a traditional project-based research grant?
Rather than narrowly funding one highly specific project, MIRA emphasizes supporting an investigator's broader program of research. This approach is intended to give early stage researchers room to grow, adapt, and pursue the most compelling directions that emerge from their work.
Does MIRA allow changes in research direction over time?
Yes. A key feature described for MIRA is flexibility. Recipients may shift emphasis over time, incorporate emerging techniques and technologies, and explore new or unconventional areas, as long as the overall research program remains within the NIGMS mission.
Does this award support higher-risk or more ambitious ideas?
Yes. With more stable support for a broader research program, the award is intended to position recipients to pursue ambitious and creative work, including higher-risk ideas that can be harder to fund through more restrictive mechanisms.
Why does the program emphasize stable funding for early stage investigators?
Stability is intended to help investigators build momentum in their labs and reduce the constant pressure of pursuing multiple short-term awards. This can support scientific independence and a more sustainable early career research trajectory.
How does MIRA relate to mentoring and training?
By reducing the ongoing pressure to chase multiple short-term funding sources, MIRA is intended to free up time and attention for mentoring and training students and other trainees. This supports the broader goal of strengthening the biomedical research workforce through well-supported training environments.
Which NIH institute is this opportunity associated with?
This MIRA opportunity is aligned with the mission of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) within NIH.
Who can apply as an organization (eligible applicant organizations)?
The opportunity is open to a wide range of U.S.-based applicant organizations, including:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Independent school districts
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), as long as they are not institutions of higher education
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Other eligible entities
Who is eligible to apply as an investigator?
Investigator eligibility is tied to Early Stage Investigator (ESI) status and other criteria described in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Applicants are expected to consult the NOFO's Eligibility section for the precise requirements.
Are foreign institutions allowed to apply directly as the applicant organization?
No. Non-U.S. institutions are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations for this opportunity.
Are foreign components allowed if the applicant organization is U.S.-based?
Yes. Foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition of a foreign component. This means a U.S.-based applicant can include certain international elements in the proposed work when appropriate.
Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply as the applicant?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply directly as the applicant.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this MIRA ESI program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 27 032.
What type of funding is this listed as?
This opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant under the health funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 93.859.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The listed original closing date is February 6, 2029.
Is an award ceiling provided in the source listing?
No. The source listing does not provide an award ceiling. Applicants are expected to rely on the NOFO and NIH guidance for budget expectations.
Does the listing provide an expected number of awards?
No. The source listing does not provide an expected number of awards. Applicants should consult the NOFO and related NIH guidance for details about anticipated competition and other award information.
Where should applicants look for the most precise eligibility and administrative requirements?
Applicants should consult the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), especially the Eligibility section, for definitive requirements and any additional criteria not included in the summary information.
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