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.

Outcomes for NIH Loan Repayment Program Awardees: A Preliminary Look

May 21, 2019

Repaying educational debt is one thing, but what other benefits might these programs provide? To answer this question, my colleagues compared individuals that applied for and received an LRP with those who applied but did not receive an LRP award between fiscal years (FYs) 2003-2009. Their history of productivity was followed through FY 2017. More specifically, we assessed pulled information on grant submissions, awards, and publications in a sample that was equalized to control for baseline differences.

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. ….