Two Arizona State University researchers have earned prestigious National Institutes of Health awards, bringing nearly $4 million in federal investment to Arizona to advance quantum sensing and microbial research. The work has the potential to improve human health and create new quantum technologies. Known as the Maximizing Investigators' Research Award, or MIRA, it is among the most competitive distinctions a biomedical researcher can achieve. The award provides millions of dollars over five years to support each scientist's entire research program. Unlike most awards, which fund a single project, MIRA gives researchers the flexibility and stability to explore new ideas and spend more time making discoveries with potential national impact. The recipients are Mouzhe Xie and Glen D'Souza, assistant professors in ASU's School of Molecular Sciences. While their research explores different scientific questions, both are working to better understand the fundamental processes that could lead to healthier lives, new biomedical technologies and scientific discoveries. "Receiving a prestigious NIH MIRA award is a tremendous accomplishment for both Professor Xie and Professor D'Souza," said Ian Gould, President’s Professor and interim director of the School of Molecular Sciences. "A MIRA award is fundamentally different from a traditional research grant. Rather than funding a single, predefined project, it reflects the NIH's confidence in an investigator's creativity, judgment and scientific vision, giving exceptional researchers the flexibility to pursue the most promising opportunities as new discoveries unfold. "In essence, a MIRA award is an investment not in a specific research proposal, but in Professor Xie and Professor D'Souza themselves as scientists. This recognition speaks to their outstanding track records, the significance of their contributions to their respective fields, and the confidence that the NIH has in their future discoveries.” Developing quantum sensors Xie received approximately $2 million to develop quantum sensors that could help scientists study what