National Institutes of Health Pediatric Research Loan Repayment Program

 

To attract and retain health professionals to pediatric research careers by offering educational loan repayment for participants who agree by written contract to engage in pediatric research in a qualifying nonprofit institution for a minimum of 2 years.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Deleted 03/27/2024 (Archived.)
Program Number
93.285
Federal Agency/Office
National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
C - Direct Payments For Specified Use
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 300 awards 320 awards
Fiscal Year 2017 333 awards
Fiscal Year 2018 321 awards (actual)
Fiscal Year 2019 300 awards (estimate)
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part G, Section 487B, Public Law 114-255, 42 U.S.C. 288-2
Awards are made pursuant to Section 2022 of the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255), which amended Section 487B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 288-2) to encompass all NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Programs.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants must: (1) be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident of the United States; (2) have a Ph.D., M.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.P.M., Pharm.D., D.C., N.D., O.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited institution; (3) have total qualifying educational loan debt equal to or in excess of 20 percent of their institutional base salary on the date of program eligibility (the effective date that a loan repayment contract has been executed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or designee); (4) conduct qualifying research supported by a domestic nonprofit foundation, nonprofit professional association, or other nonprofit institution, or a U.S. or other government agency (Federal, State, or local); (5) engage in qualified pediatric research (pediatric research is research that is directly related to diseases, disorders, and other conditions in children); (6) engage in qualified pediatric research for at least 50 percent of their time, i.e., not less than 20 hours per week based on a 40 hour week; (7) agree to conduct research for which funding is not prohibited by Federal law, regulation, or HHS/NIH policy, and in accordance with applicable Federal, State and local law (e.g., applicable human subject protection regulations); and (8) sign and submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, at the time of application submission, a contract agreeing to engage in pediatric research in a qualifying institution for a minimum of 2 years. Full-time employees of Federal Government agencies are ineligible to apply for LRP benefits. Part-time Federal employees who engage in qualifying research as part of their non-Federal duties for at least 20 hours per week based on a 40 hour week, and who are not compensated as Federal employees for their research, are eligible to apply for loan repayment if they meet all other eligibility requirements.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Health professionals who are interested in pursuing pediatric research careers who have unpaid educational loans will benefit from this program.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants electronically transmit the following documents to the NIH: Applicant Information Statement, Biosketch, Personal Statement, Description of Research Activities, 3-5 Recommendations, Loan Information including current account statement(s) and promissory note(s) or disclosure statement(s), Assessment of Research Activities Statement (completed by the research supervisor), and Description of the Research Environment (completed by the research supervisor), Training or Mentoring Plan (completed by the research supervisor). Institutional Contacts electronically transmit 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 50 percent of their time (or not less than 20 hours per week based on a 40 hour week); (c) certifies that the institution is non-profit (exempt from tax under 26 USC 501), and (d) provides the applicant's institutional base salary.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants must access and submit the Loan Repayment Program application via the website www.lrp.nih.gov. Applications submitted to the NIH 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.
Award Procedure
The NIH Institutes and Centers approve or disapprove applications for participation in the Pediatric Research Loan Repayment Program. 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. Contact the NIH via e-mail at LRP@NIH.GOV for further guidance.
Deadlines
November 15, 2019 At 8:00 p.m., EST Review the Loan Repayment Program website www.lrp.nih.gov, or contact the Headquarters Office listed below for the application deadlines.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
More than 180 days. The approximate time for approval/disapproval is 6 months from the closing date of the annual application period.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
More than 180 days. At the conclusion of the initial 2-year contract, participants may apply and be considered for subsequent 1 or 2-year continuation contracts under the application and approval procedures specified above. Eligible renewal applications that score within the funding range receive continuation contracts.
How are proposals selected?
The NIH Institutes and Centers approve or disapprove applications for participation in the Pediatric Research Loan Repayment Program. Applications that are on time, complete and eligible are referred to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center by the NIH Center for Scientific Review. The NIH Institutes and Centers convene panels comprised of non-NIH scientists to review, score and rank applications. In evaluating the application, reviewers are directed to consider the following components as they relate to the likelihood that the applicant will continue in a research career: (1) potential of the applicant to pursue a career in research, and (2) quality of the overall environment to prepare the applicant for a research career.
How may assistance be used?
To provide repayment of extant educational loans incurred by health professionals engaged in pediatric research in a qualified nonprofit institution or Federal or other domestic government agency (State or local), and who are engaged in research that is supported by a nonprofit foundation, nonprofit professional association, or other nonprofit entity, or a Federal or other domestic government agency (State, local). 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. Participants may apply for and the Secretary may grant extension contracts for one-year or two-year periods, as determined by the Secretary, if the individual continues to engage in qualifying research. Renewal applications are competitively reviewed and the submission of a renewal application does not assure the award of benefits. Maximum program benefit is $50,000 per year in loan repayments and $19,500 per year in Federal tax reimbursements. Recipients must have qualified educational debt in excess of 20 percent of their annual salary, which is referred to as their "debt threshold."
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
The NIH will maintain applicant records for 3 years after rejection and participant records for 6 years after completion of final service obligation.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Assistance is available for a minimum 2-year period. One or 2-year continuation contracts are available for eligible individuals whose renewal applications score within the funding range. Payments will be 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. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Quarterly.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Matthew R. Lockhart
6700B Rockledge Dr, Suite 2300
Bethesda, MD 20813 US
matthew.lockhart@nih.gov
Phone: (240) 380-3062
Website Address
http://www.lrp.nih.gov
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-4554-0-1-552
Obligations
(Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 18$16,948,661.00; FY 19 est $17,000,000.00; FY 20 est $17,000,000.00; FY 16$16,175,369.00; FY 17 est $17,000,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
For initial 2-year contract periods, loan repayment of 50 percent of education debt up to $100,000 plus tax payments. For renewal contracts, loan repayment of 50 percent of education debt per year up to $50,000 per year.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Pertinent information is contained in the 21st Century Cures Act, Title II, Subtitle C, Section 2022, Public Law 114-255, 42 U.S.C. 288-2. The NIH LRP-PR was initially announced by publication of a Notice in the Federal Register (Vol. 66, No. 173), and updated in Federal Register (Vol. 68, No. 61).
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.