National Institutes of Health Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Research Loan Repayment Program (93.936)
Program
93.936 National Institutes of Health Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Research Loan Repayment Program
Federal Agency
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, Part 68, Section 487A, Public Law 100-607, as amended; Public Law 103-43, 42 U.S.C. 288-l, 102 Stat. 3148, as amended, Public Law 105-392.
Program Number
93.936
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To help assure an adequate supply of trained researchers (physicians, registered nurses and scientists) with respect to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by providing for the repayment of educational loans for participants who agree, by written contract, to primarily engage in AIDS research as employees of the NIH.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
This program will provide partial repayment of educational loans incurred by physicians, registered nurses and scientists engaged, as employees of the NIH, in AIDS research. Recipients must agree by written contract to engage in such research, initially, for a minimum of 2 years; individuals who have conflicting service obligations may not participate in this program until those obligations are satisfied or have been deferred during the period of program service. Continuation contracts are available, dependent upon the level of debt and continued involvement in AIDS research, and are issued for one-year periods. Maximum program benefit is $35,000 per year in loan repayments and $13,650 per year in Federal tax reimbursements. Recipients must have qualified educational debt in excess of 20 percent of their annual NIH salary, which is referred to as their "debt threshold." An amount equal to half of this "debt threshold" will not be repaid by NIH and must be paid by the Program participants.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants must: (1) Be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States; (2) possess a M.D., Ph.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.V.M., D.P.M., A.D.N., B.S.N., or equivalent degree; 3) have educational debt, which results from governmental or commercial loans obtained to support their undergraduate and/or graduate education in excess of 20 percent of their annual NIH salary (exclusive of special allowances of any kind) on the program eligibility date; 4) be appointed under any temporary or permanent employment mechanism, so long as their employment has the potential to last a minimum of 2 years; 5) not have an existing service obligation to Federal, State, or other entities, unless deferred during period of program service; 6) submit an application to participate in the Loan Repayment Program; and 7) submit to the Secretary for Health and Human Services, at the time of application, a signed contract agreeing to engage in AIDS research at the NIH for a minimum of 2 years.
Beneficiary Eligibility
AIDS researchers who have unpaid educational loans will benefit from this program.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants must submit documentation of the following, as appropriate: 1) Copies of loan applications and agreements from governmental or commercial educational loans that are being considered for repayment; 2) copies of the standard student budget from schools attended during period when debt was incurred; and 3) other documentation as required by law.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Applicants must access and submit the Loan Repayment Program application electronically via the website www.lrp.nih.gov; seek qualified employment with a sponsoring Institute or Center (IC) of the NIH. Once an application has been submitted, the Loan Repayment Committee reviews it at a regularly scheduled review meeting and a determination of loan repayment recipients is made.
Award Procedure
The NIH Loan Repayment Committee (LRC) will review, rank, and approve or disapprove applications recommended for program participation by each IC. Applications approved for program participation by the LRC will be notified by the Program Director. The Secretary, or her/his designee, will sign the service contract of program participants, provide a copy to the participant, and notice of the amount of approved loan repayment.
Deadlines
Review the Loan Repayment Program website www.lrp.nih.gov, or contact the Headquarters Office listed below for the application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Employees of the NIH who are not approved as a result of this process may ask for reconsideration through the standard appeal procedures available to NIH employees.
Renewals
At the conclusion of the initial two-year contract, participants may apply and be recommended for subsequent one-year continuation contracts under the application and approval procedures specified above.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Assistance is available for a minimum 2-year period. One-year, continuation contracts are available for individuals whose educational debt exceeds that maximum repayable amount for 2-years. Payments are made directly to lenders, following each quarter of the participant's satisfactory service, unless otherwise agreed upon by the participant and Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Program participants must be certified quarterly as to having satisfactorily performed their research assignments.
Audits
None.
Records
The NIH will maintain applicant records for 3 years after rejection and participant records for 6 years after completion of final service obligation.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2001, 15 awards were made. In fiscal years 2002 and 2003, 20 awards are anticipated to be made.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0846-0-1-552.
Obligations
(Loan Repayments) FY 02 $717,547; FY 03 est $1,125,000; and FY 04 est $1,125,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Dollar assistance range is estimated to be $11,192 in loan repayments and $4,365 in tax reimbursements to a maximum of $70,000 and $27,300 in loan repayments and tax reimbursements, respectively. Average dollar assistance per contract is estimated to be $42,228 in loan repayments and $16,469 in tax reimbursements.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Pertinent information is contained in Public Law 100-607, Public Law 103-43, Public Law 105-392; Federal Register, Volume 54, No. 215, November 8, 1989; NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, No. 24, June 24, 1994; Federal Register, Volume 56, No. 150, August 5, 1991; Section 487A of Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 288-l). Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is pending.
Related Programs
93.162, National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program; 93.164, Indian Health Service Educational Loan Repayment; 93.220, Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds; 93.232, Loan Repayment Program for General Research; 93.364, Nursing Student Loans.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Program and Business Contact: Marc S. Horowitz, J.D., Office of Loan Repayment and Scholarship, National Institutes of Health, 2 Center Drive, Room 2E24, Bethesda, MD 20892-0230. LRP Helpline: 866-849-4047. Facsimile: 866-849-4046.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Studies on the effects of gp120, TAT, and TNF-alpha on cell activation and gene expression in human endothelial cells in primary culture. Identification and characterization of cellular subtypes that comprise the immune system both in healthy human subjects and in subjects with diseases such as HIV infection. Development of murine models related to T-cell regeneration; and treatment of HIV patients infected with multi-drug resistant TB.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Applicants are approved for participation in the NIH Loan Repayment Program for AIDS Research after the LRC determines that the applicant will conduct qualified AIDS research. LRC approval, in part, is based upon the appropriateness of the research assignment to qualified AIDS research, the scientific merit of the research, and the credentials of the applicant as they relate to performing qualified AIDS research.
