NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP)

Deadlines and Important Information

The 2021 application submission cycle has begun!

The NIH will accept applications on September 1, 2020. Applications are limited to one per year. The deadline for applications is November 20, 2020, 8pm EST. Potential applicants should carefully read the general eligibility requirements, plus the requirements under each funding announcement. Questions concerning eligibility should be discussed with NIH staff. Find the appropriate contact at the Contact and Engage page.

The five LRP Program Announcements for the 2021 cycle are:

  • NOT-OD-20-133 – LRP for Clinical Researchers (LRP-CR)
  • NOT-OD-20-134 – Clinical Research LRP for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (LRP-IDB)
  • NOT-OD-20-135 – LRP for Contraception and Infertility Research (LRP-CIR)
  • NOT-OD-20-136 – LRP for Pediatric Research (LRP-PR)
  • NOT-OD-20-137 – LRP for Health Disparities Research (LRP-HDR)

*While completing the online application, the Institutional Approver for Columbia University is William Berger at wb2174@columbia.edu of Sponsored Projects Administration.

For all details of the NIH Loan Repayment Program, refer to the website at:

http://www.lrp.nih.gov/

It is best to contact NIH directly for questions concerning eligibility.  Refer to Contact & Engage page for contact information.

About the NIH LRP

The LRP may repay up to $50,000 of qualified student loan debt per year to outstanding health professionals who commit at least two years to conduct biomedical, behavioral, social, or clinical research, and who agree to engage in such research for an average of at least 20 hours per week based on a 40-hour work week. This includes most undergraduate, graduate, and medical school loans. Loan repayment benefits are in addition to the institutional salary received for research.

Potential applicants should carefully read the general eligibility requirements, plus the requirements under each funding announcement listed below.

Important Information if You are an NRSA Recipient - Please Read

Please note: Recipients of a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) support from an individual postdoctoral fellowship (F32) or an institutional research training grant (T32) will be eligible for loan repayment during the second year of NRSA support if a formal extension of the NRSA service payback is granted (see NIH Training Payback).  Concurrent fulfillment of LRP and NRSA service obligations is prohibited. A deferral form can be obtained by contacting the LRP Help Line at 866-849-4047 and should be submitted prior to acceptance into the LRP.  It is important to note, though, that NRSA recipients may continue to receive their stipends from the NRSA.