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 HighlightsNicholas B., MD
“The most significant impact of the receiving the LRP has been the ability to focus my time and energy on the development of my research and junior academic career without an overwhelming sense of anxiety related to my large student debt burden”
Christine F., PhD
“I have a daughter who will be heading off to college soon. My husband and I were worried that my huge loan debt would impact our ability to help her with tuition and the other expenses she will have as a college student. The LRP award will significantly lessen our burden and help us to plan for her future, and ours”
Michael J., PhD
“Uprooting a family to a different city to do a postdoc does not come without costs. It was very helpful to be able to stay the course in pursuing becoming a PI without the financial hardship of repaying my loans”
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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