NIH loan repayment programs for health professionals

Dear Colleague: NIH is inviting health professionals engaged in biomedical and behavioral research to apply online for a loan repayment award. The loan repayment programs (LRPs) are a vital component of our nation’s efforts to recruit and retain highly qualified professionals to careers in research. NIH annually awards loan repayment contracts to approximately 1,600 health professionals with an average award of $52,000. More than 50% of the awards are made to individuals less than 5 years out of school. Approximately 40% of all new applicants are funded and 70% of renewals are funded. The LRP application cycle is open through December 1. NIH will repay up to $35,000 annually of qualified educational debt for health professionals pursuing careers in one of the five Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs). The programs also provide coverage for Federal and state tax liabilities. To qualify, applicants must possess a doctoral-level degree, devote an average of 20 hours per week or more to research funded by a non-profit organization, university, or government entity (NIH grant support is not required). Applicants must also have outstanding educational loan debt equal to at least 20% of their institutional base salary and be U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Please share this e-mail with the researchers in your organization who may benefit from LRP participation. All applications for 2008 awards must be submitted online by 8:00 p.m. EST, December 1, 2007. To access the online application or for program information, please visit the LRP Web site at www.lrp.nih.gov. For assistance call the Helpline at 866.849.4047 or send email inquiries to lrp@nih.gov. Best regards, Suman R. King, PhD Director, NIH Division of Loan Repayment www.LRP.nih.gov