Professor Cliff Stains has been awarded a MIRA (Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. 

The award, also known as an R35 grant, will allow the Stains group to investigate cellular signaling at the molecular level in order to develop novel approaches to targeting diseased cells. According to the group’s project summary, they have developed new classes of fluorescent probes that monitor and respond to the presence of signaling species that are related to disease.

“During the next five years, we will continue to develop and apply technologies to illuminate disease-associated pathways and processes,” the summary reads. “We will also pursue new platforms for the gated release of therapeutic compounds in living systems and approaches for monitoring and controlling signaling enzyme activity in living cells.”

The goal of the R35 grant is to enhance scientific productivity by providing funds that are highly flexible, while also offering stability. The MIRA for the Stains Lab totals $1,953,405.

Congratulations to Professor Stains and the Stains Lab on this exciting achievement.