Notice Number: NOT-GM-16-111
Key Dates
Release Date: July 12, 2016
Estimated Publication Date of Announcement: Summer 2016
First Estimated Application Due Date: Fall 2016
Earliest Estimated Award Date: July 2017
Earliest Estimated Start Date: July 2017
RFA-GM-17-004
RFA-GM-16-003
Issued by
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Purpose
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences intends to publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for its Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) program initiative. This FOA will continue pilot testing of the MIRA concept by targeting Early Stage Investigators. The FOA will be a reissue of RFA-GM-16-003 with the change that New Investigators who are no longer Early Stage Investigators will not be eligible. Other minor changes are expected to improve the clarity of the announcement.
This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop their applications and to efficiently address the large number of inquiries that have been received regarding NIGMS plans.
The FOA is expected to be published in the summer 2016 with an expected application due date in the fall 2016.
This FOA will utilize the R35 activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.
Research Initiative Details
The Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) is a grant to provide support for the program of 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 mechanism 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 nation's 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 investigators to devote more time and energy to mentoring trainees in a more stable research environment.
The purpose of this FOA is to test the feasibility of this grant mechanism for Early Stage Investigators.
This Notice encourages Early Stage Investigators with expertise and insights into any area of science within the NIGMS mission to begin to consider applying for this new FOA. NIGMS areas of research and program contacts are listed on the NIGMS website.Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Dr. Darren Sledjeski
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Telephone: 301-594-0943
Email: sledjeskid@nigms.nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
