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Overview
The application process for the Extramural Loan Repayment
Programs is conducted electronically. The application materials
are located at the NIH Loan Repayment website
(www.lrp.nih.gov) and
must be completed online (see Figure 1). In order to access
and complete the forms located at our website
(www.lrp.nih.gov),
you must have Netscape version 4.7 or higher, or Internet
Explorer version 5.0 or higher.
All forms to be completed in support of your application by
individuals you have identified, including
Research Supervisors,
Mentors, Recommenders , and
Institutional Contacts,
are also located at the NIH Loan Repayment website,
www.lrp.nih.gov.
These individuals are contacted electronically using e-mail
addresses supplied by you and must complete their forms online.
You must select the Loan Repayment Program (Pediatric Research,
Clinical Research, Contraception and Infertility Research, Health
Disparities Research, or Clinical Research LRP for Individuals
from Disadvantaged Backgrounds) you are applying for at the
start of the application process. Only one loan repayment
program can be selected since this selection will guide the
processing of the application during the review process.
The NIH Institutes and Centers approve or disapprove applications
for participation in an Extramural Loan Repayment Program.
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Applications submitted to the Division of Loan Repayment are
first examined to determine if the basic eligibility
requirements are satisfied. If these requirements are met,
the application is forwarded to the
NIH Center
for Scientific Review for a determination regarding which
NIH Institute or Center the application will be assigned to
for review, scoring, and ranking.
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Applications for the Health Disparities Research or the Clinical
Researchers from Disadvantaged Backgrounds Loan Repayment Programs
are forwarded to the National Center for Minority Health and
Health Disparities Research (NCMHD)
(Click here for more
information on the NCMHD).
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Applications for the Contraception and Infertility Research
Loan Repayment Program are assigned to the National Institute
of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
(Click here
for more information on the NICHD).
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The Loan Repayment Process
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Application Forms
The following information is furnished by the applicant or others
on behalf of the applicant (forms are completed electronically at
the NIH LRP Web-site).
Applicants complete the online application by the specified
deadline. They are responsible for providing the following to
the NIH Division of Loan Repayment:
- Applicant Information Statement with their NIH Biosketch.
- Funding Information identifying their nonprofit funding sources.
- Personal Statement, which includes a discussion of career goals and academic objectives.
- Print, sign and fax in the Online Certification.
- Provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency.
The application provides the list of valid documents.
- Description of Research Activities,
which describes the current or proposed research project including the specific responsibilities
and role of the applicant in conducting the research. The
research supervisor or mentor
will be asked to concur in the research project description provided by the applicant
(as a result, it is important that the description of
Research Activities form be completed and submitted by the applicant as early as possible in
the application process).
- Identification of Recommenders. Recommenders need to be colleagues that can
speak to the applicant's research capability.
- Identification of Institutional Contact. The official providing this information
should be someone authorized to reply for the organization. Please check with your
institute to see who to name.
- Loan Information for all qualifying loans. If recommended for funding you
will be asked to fax us a current account statement(s),
and promissory note(s) or
disclosure statement(s), obtained from lending institution(s).
Research supervisors or mentors complete several online forms on behalf of the applicant:
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Recommendation
- An Assessment of the Research Activities form including review/concur
with the Research Activities Statement submitted by the applicant, and;
- Description of the Research Environment, which provides detailed information about the lab
where the applicant is or will be conducting research, including funding, lab space, and
major areas under investigation.
- Training or Mentoring Plan, which includes a detailed discussion of the
training or mentoring plan, including a discussion of the research methods and
scientific techniques to be taught. This document is completed by the
research supervisor or
mentor and is submitted for all applicants.
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NIH Biosketch of a laboratory staff member if involved in training or mentoring the applicant (optional).
- Their NIH Biosketch.
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Recommenders complete the online Recommendation form which includes their assessment of the
applicants research capabilities and likelihood to become an independent researcher. A total of 3
Recommendations are required. The recommenders are asked to rate the applicant on several
criteria and to provide text responses to 3 questions: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Overall Comments.
Institutional Contacts complete the online Institutional Information form. This form includes
a certification that: (a) assures the applicant will be provided the necessary time and
resources to engage in the research project for two years from the date a Loan Repayment
Program Contract is executed; (b)
assures that the applicant is or will be engaged in qualifying research for at least 50 percent or more of their total level of effort for an average of at least 20 hours per week during each quarterly service period. That is, during each contract quarter, participants must conduct the required research for a minimum of 240 hours (based on a 12-week quarter) or 260 hours (based on a 13-week quarter).
(c) certifies that the institution is a domestic nonprofit
(exempt from tax under 26 USC 501), and (d) provides the applicant's
institutional base salary.
You can check the status of your application on-line at www.lrp.nih.gov, including the
status of materials submitted on your behalf from Recommenders,
Research Supervisors,
Mentors, and Institutional Contacts.
Please call the LRP Helpline at 866-849-4047 if you have questions regarding the
Loan Repayment Program application process.
Institute and Center Review, Scoring, and Ranking
The NIH Institutes and Centers approve or disapprove applications for
participation in the Extramural Loan Repayment Programs. Award funding
is highly competitive. Areas of research priority may be established by
the Institutes and Centers, and may vary from year to year. Applications
that are on time, complete and eligible will be referred to the appropriate
NIH Institute for peer review by the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR).
In evaluating the application, reviewers will be directed to consider the
following components as they relate to the likelihood that the applicant
will continue in a research career:
- Potential of the applicant to pursue a career in research.
- Appropriateness of the applicant's previous training and experience
to prepare him/her for a research career.
- Suitability of the applicant's proposed research activities in the two-year
period to foster a research career.
- Assessment of the applicant's commitment to a research career as
reflected by the personal statement of long-term career goals and the
plan outlined to achieve those goals.
- Strength of recommendations attesting to the applicant's potential
for a research career.
b. Quality of the overall environment to prepare the applicant for a research career.
- Availability of appropriate scientific colleagues to achieve and/or enhance
the applicant's research independence.
- Quality and appropriateness of institutional resources and facilities.
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When an Institute or Center approves an application, the NIH Division of Loan
Repayment notifies individuals of their award amount, provides a repayment
schedule that covers the period of participation, and a Loan Repayment Program
Contract is executed by an authorized representative of the Secretary, DHHS.
If the approved research assignment changes, or if the employing research
institution changes, the participant must have their continued eligibility
re-certified by the Institute or Center which approved their application.
During the contract period the LRP awards are portable and can be
transferred across institutions and research projects. However, the
portability of the awards is subject to a review of continuing
eligibility by the NIH Institute or Center (IC) that funded the
award. In their review of continuing eligibility, the funding IC
will assess the appropriateness of the research project, research
environment, and mentoring plan, as well as reconfirm that basic
eligibility conditions will be satisfied, e.g., that the research
is supported by a domestic nonprofit funding and will occupy at least 50 percent or more of your total level of effort for an average of at least 20 hours per week during each quarterly service period.
You should notify the NIH LRP of any changes to your research assignment
and/or institution during the contract period, and we will provide you
with instructions on requesting NIH approval for the changes to your
institution or research project. It is recommended that you advise us
of these changes 2 months prior to their effective date, to allow
sufficient processing time within the NIH. Contact the NIH at
866-849-4047 for further guidance.
Application Dates and Deadlines
To apply for loan repayment support under the Clinical Research LRP, Pediatric Research LRP, Contraception and Infertility Research LRP, Health Disparities Research LRP, or Clinical Research LRP for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds your entire application (including research activities, educational loan information, and other required information) must be submitted, via the NIH Loan Repayment Program online application system, by the applicant deadline. Your colleagues are allowed additional time after this deadline to complete their forms on your behalf.
Applications that are incomplete, including applications that are missing supplemental information, such as recommendations and institutional certification, as of the applicable deadline date WILL NOT be considered. It is strongly recommended that applications be submitted and the required documents be faxed as soon as possible and that applicants follow-up with their colleagues to insure that their forms are completed prior to the colleague deadline.
LRP contracts are expected to become effective on or about July 1 the following year. LRP contracts are not retroactive to any earlier date.
System Requirements
In order to access and complete the forms located at our website (www.lrp.nih.gov), you must have Netscape version
4.7 or higher, or Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher.
We recommend that applicants alert others who will be asked
to provide information on their behalf, such as Research
Supervisors, Mentors, Recommenders, and Institutional
Officials about these system requirements.
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