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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 HighlightsJerry C., MD, MSc
“The NIH LRP has truly transformed my research career – not just because of the crucial financial support it has provided – but because the valuable process of preparing my applications laid the groundwork and experiential knowledge to apply for subsequent NIH grants. I am very grateful to the wonderful Program Officers and staff at the NIH Division of Loan Repayment for their feedback and for nurturing my development!”
Anastacia, G., PhD
“The NIH LRP has been an essential step to realizing my long-term research and career goals - it has afforded me the opportunity to focus on continuing the necessary training I need to become an independently funded primary investigator in pediatrics, without worry of financial hardship or rush to move forward with my scientific career prematurely. I am forever grateful to have been granted this incredible award”
Lauren, S., PhD
“The LRP Program has been invaluable to my career development. This program allowed me to pursue a T32 postdoctoral fellowship and K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award without worrying about paying off my student debt. I would not have been able to remain in academic research without this program”
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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