NIGMS intends to continue its flagship Maximizing Investigators' Research Awards (MIRA) program. MIRA provides support for the research in an investigator's laboratory that falls within the mission of NIGMS through a single grant award. The goal of MIRA is to increase the efficiency of NIGMS funding by providing investigators with greater funding stability and scientific flexibility, thereby enabling researchers to take on more ambitious and innovative studies, enhancing scientific productivity and the chances for important breakthroughs. The program will also help distribute funding more widely among the nation's highly talented and promising investigators. Over the past decade, MIRA has become the primary approach through which NIGMS supports fundamental, investigator-initiated research.

Education

• Public and state institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Independent school districts

Government

• Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
• State governments
• Public and Indian housing authorities
• County governments

Nonprofit

• Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)
• Other Native American tribal organizations

Business

• For-profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses