You Do the Research, NIH Repays Your Student Loans – Apply by November 17

October 25, 2022

If you’re going to be conducting research for the next two years, why not have your student debt taken care of while you work? In exchange for a commitment to conduct biomedical or behavioral research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will repay up to $100,000 of student loan debt with a two-year contract through the NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs).

What’s New with the NIH Loan Repayment Programs: FY 2022 Applications, Anniversaries, and a New Program

August 10, 2021

Two decades ago, NIH launched a duo of loan repayment programs (LRPs) to recruit and retain qualified health professionals into research on health disparities. Now, as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Health Disparities Research LRP (LRP-HDR) and Clinical Research LRP for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (LRP-IDB), we wanted to share some data, highlight a new extramural LRP, and send a reminder that the LRP application cycle opens on September 1st.

All About Grants Podcast: NIH Loan Repayment Programs (Part 2) –The Application

June 10, 2021

The NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP) conversation is back! And, building on Part 1, this time, we are getting into the nitty gritty of the application itself. Dr. Ericka Boone, Director of the Division of Loan Repayment is joined by Dr. Roya Kalantari, a program officer focused on LRPs at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to discuss what you should do when preparing to apply, the various sections of the application, some tips to consider and mistakes to avoid, as well as thoughts on when seeking a renewal.

NIH Loan Repayment Programs: A Lifeline for Biomedical and Biobehavioral Researchers: Applications Accepted September 1 – November 15

September 28, 2018

By the time many researchers have completed their education and training, they have amassed on average $160,000 in student loan debt. The NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) are a set of programs established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. The LRPs counteract early-career researchers’ financial pressure by repaying up to $35,000 annually ($70,000 over a two-year contract) of a researcher’s qualifying educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in research areas important to the mission of NIH.

Have You Seen the Loan Repayment Program Recently? Here’s What You Missed

September 5, 2017

As I reflect on the research training I received during and after medical school, I recall how lucky I was that I did not have much resulting debt and severe financial constraints that could interfere with my research career. Unfortunately, today’s aspiring physician scientists are often mired in debt. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that two-thirds of medical students graduate with debt, with 80% of those students owing at least $100,000.

How can we alleviate the rising debt accrued during biomedical training for those investigators seeking a foothold in the lab? The NIH loan repayment programs (LRPs), managed inside the Office of Extramural Research, is one approach the NIH is utilizing to stabilize career trajectories for talented investigators. My predecessor, Dr. Sally Rockey, understood and also championed the impact of the LRPs, and I share her enthusiasm. ….