NIGMS Participation in the NIH Loan Repayment Program

The NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) are a set of programs established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers.

Loan Repayment Program (LRP) awards are based on the potential of an applicant to build and sustain a research career. Award funds are paid by the NIH directly to lenders to repay principal, interest, and qualified related expenses. Detailed eligibility requirements can be found on the LRP website. NIGMS participates in the following LRP extramural funding opportunities:

Clinical Research (L30)*

Focus on:

  • Patient-oriented research
  • Causes and consequences of disease
  • Inpatient or outpatient setting

NIGMS prioritizes applicants with clinical doctorates

Clinical Researchers from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (L32)*

Focus on:

  • Patient-oriented research
  • Causes and consequences of disease
  • Inpatient or outpatient setting
  • For clinical investigators coming from an environment that inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skill, and ability required to enroll in and graduate from a health professional school, or a family with an annual income below low-income thresholds.

NIGMS prioritizes applicants with clinical doctorates

Pediatric Research (L40)

Focus on:

  • Pediatric research
  • Pediatric investigators
  • Pediatric subjects

NIGMS prioritizes applicants with clinical doctorates

Health Disparities Research (L60)

Focus on:

  • Basic, clinical, or behavioral research on a health disparity population
  • The causes of health disparities and methods to prevent, diagnose, and treat such disparities
  • Health differences that adversely affect populations who experience greater challenges to optimal health and are closely linked with intergenerational social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantages

Research in Emerging Areas Critical to Human Health (REACH) (L70)

Open to eligible individuals who are:

  • PIs of active NIGMS F32 awards
  • PIs of active NIGMS K awards
  • Trainees currently supported by active NIGMS Postdoctoral T32 Awards
  • PIs of active NIGMS R16 Awards

To enhance research capacity nationwide, NIGMS encourages applications from individuals conducting research in IDeA States.

*Please note: The definition of Clinical Research for the LRPs is derived from LRP-related legislation and may differ from other published Clinical Research definitions.

Basic requirements include:

  • M.D., Ph.D., Pharm.D., Psy.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.P.M., D.C., N.D., O.D., D.V.M., or equivalent doctoral-level degree from an accredited institution.
  • Qualifying educational debt. The sum of your educational debt must equal at least 20 percent of your base salary from the institution supporting your research.
  • Conducting research funded by a domestic nonprofit or U.S. government (federal, state,​ or local) entity. A domestic foundation, professional association, or institution is considered to be nonprofit if exempt from federal tax under the provisions of Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 501).
  • Conducting qualifying research that represents 50 percent or more of the total level of effort and consumes an average of at least 20 hours per week during each quarterly service period.
  • United States citizenship or U.S. national or permanent resident status.

Benefits

In exchange for a 2-year research commitment, NIH will:

  • Repay qualified educational debt up to $50,000 per year
  • Reimburse federal taxes resulting from your repayment award

Program awardees with student debt remaining at the completion of the award may apply for a competitive renewal provided they continue to meet NIH's eligibility requirements.

Application Process

  • The LRP application can be completed online. The website provides detailed eligibility requirements, current application deadline, and award schedule as well as an interactive roadmap for the application process, tips for writing a competitive application, repayment estimator, and answers to frequently asked questions.
  • The application period is annually from September 1 through the third Thursday in November. Next application period: September 1 - November 20, 2025.
  • Applicants can request a change in Institute or Center up until January 31, 2026.

Questions about eligibility?

  • If you have questions about the eligibility requirements or want to know if your research fits within the NIGMS mission, please contact us before you apply! Email the NIGMS LRP coordinator, Dr. Shannon Doyle, at the NIGMS DEA Mailbox.
  • If you have questions about qualifying loan debt, you can contact lrp@nih.gov.
This page last updated on 09/12/2025 8:18 AM