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NIH Grants and Funding
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Supporting Scientific Discovery
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 escalating costs of advanced education and training in medicine and clinical specialties are forcing some scientists to abandon their research careers for higher-paying private industry or private practice careers.
The LRPs counteract that financial pressure by repaying up to $50,000 annually of a researcher's qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research. Since tomorrow's medical breakthroughs will be made by investigators starting in their research careers today, the LRPs represent an important investment by NIH in the future of health discovery and the wellbeing of the Nation.
Application Periods and Documentation Deadlines
Extramural New & Renewal Awards
Online Application Period
Sep 1, 2024 - Nov 21, 2024
Supporting Documentation PeriodSep 1, 2024 - Nov 21, 2024
Intramural New & Renewal Awards
Online Application Period
Jan 2, 2025 - Mar 17, 2025
Supporting Documentation PeriodJan 2, 2025 - Mar 17, 2025
Intramural ACGME New Awards
Online Application Period
Jan 2, 2025 - Apr 15, 2025
Supporting Documentation PeriodJan 2, 2025 - Apr 15, 2025
Contact Us
(866) 849-4047lrp@nih.gov
Download LRP Application Instruction Guide
Application Process
Interactive Roadmap
Ambassador Highlights
View All Ambassador HighlightsJennifer K., MD, MPH
“Keep trying! Just like in research, being persistent pays off! I wasn’t successful applying to the LRP on my first attempt”
Denise C., PhD, FAHA
“Coming from a low-income, disadvantaged background required me to obtain student loans along my journey to a PhD. Receiving the LRP contracts has not only lifted a significant financial burden, but has also provided confirmation to others of my clinical and translational research capabilities. The prestige of this award has opened doors for research collaborations and accelerated the growth my independent clinical research program”
Sidharth, M., MD, PhD, FAAP
“The NIH Loan Repayment Program provided as much honor as it did financial relief by validating the science I was pursuing while providing a financial cushion, reducing my need to seek out clinical opportunities to supplement my income. With more time to conduct my research, my productivity increased proportionately with my sense of peace and fulfillment.”
Contact & Engage
Engage
NIH LRP Overview – Matthew Lockhart
Matthew Lockhart provides a brief overview of the NIH Loan Repayment Program.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8NeWueSnR8
Inside Cancer Careers Podcast Episode 3: Starting Your Lab & Repaying Your Loans
In this episode of Inside Cancer Careers, we first hear from Dr. Simon Schwörer, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago in Hematology Oncology, and how he started his own lab. We then hear from Matthew Lockhart, Director of the Division of Loan Repayment at the NIH to discuss the Loan Repayment Program (LRP) along with a couple of LRP Ambassadors.
https://www.cancer.gov/grants-training/training/inside-cancer-careers/episode-3
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