Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-GM-16-002
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Category of Funding Activity: Health
Eligible Applicants: 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 (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Agency Name: HHS-NIH11
Closing Date: 2015-05-20
Award Ceiling: $750,000
Expected Number of Awards: 100

Description: The Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) is a grant to provide support for all of the research in an investigator's laboratory that falls within the mission of NIGMS.  The goal of MIRA is to increase the efficiency and efficacy of NIGMS funding.  It is anticipated that the new program will:
Increase the stability of funding for NIGMS-supported investigators, which could enhance their ability to take on ambitious scientific projects and approach problems more creatively.
Increase flexibility for investigators to follow important new research directions as opportunities arise, rather than being bound to specific aims proposed in advance of the studies.
More widely distribute funding among the nations highly talented and promising investigators to increase overall scientific productivity and the chances for important breakthroughs.
Reduce the time spent by researchers writing and reviewing grant applications, allowing them to spend more time conducting research.
Enable principal investigators to devote more time and energy to mentoring junior scientists in a more stable research environment.  The purpose of this FOA is to test the feasibility of this grant mechanism through a pilot program with restricted eligibility.
Link: www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?opp…