The National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program (LRP) is designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers.
In return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research, each award provides researchers with repayment of up to $100,000 of their qualified educational debt over a two-year period (roughly $50,000 per year).
The NIH LRP website contains information about areas of support and how to apply for the program, as well as important deadlines and information to share with reference letter writers/recommenders.
Use the Matchmaker tool on the NIH website to determine if your project might fit within the NIAMS mission. To confirm that your research fits within the NIAMS mission, please contact the NIAMS Institute LRP Liaison: Melinda Nelson.
Overview of the NIH REACH program
In 2021, the NIH Director established a new subcategory area under the Extramural Loan Repayment Program based on workforce and scientific priorities. The purpose of the REACH subcategory is to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into research careers where: (1) there are major gaps in biomedical and biobehavioral research; and/or (2) to expand research in emerging areas critical to human health.
Emerging areas are considered new areas of biomedical and biobehavioral research that are ripe for targeted investments that can have a transformative relevance and impact for years to come. Each year NIH Institutes and Centers will determine which emerging areas of research fit within their research priorities.
NIAMS 2025 REACH Priorities
NIAMS will accept applications from LRP-eligible current or past recipients of the following awards, who are doing research in NIAMS mission areas, including applicants doing research in:
- Basic research in the etiology of acute and chronic pain in musculoskeletal and autoimmune and skin disorders
- Dissemination and Implementation research
- Data Science research
Tips for Applicants
To confirm that your research fits within the NIAMS mission, or if you have other questions about the NIAMS LRP, please contact the NIAMS Institute LRP Liaison: Melinda Nelson.
The Liaison is an official who manages the LRP at each Institute and often speaks to prospective applicants as well as to those who have not been successful. Feel free to reach out before you apply to ask questions about the process. Or, if you applied but didn’t get funded, reach out for feedback about the review afterwards.
When you’re working on your application, keep in mind that reviewers are looking at your potential to become an independent, funded researcher:
- Everything you include in the application is reviewed in this context.
- Take your time in writing the application and have your mentor and others review it.
- Be sure your commitment to research is clearly reflected in your application and your letters of recommendation.
- Your Personal Statement is critically important and should include not only a plan for your career trajectory, but also what you have done to date that has helped you along the way and what you learned from those experiences. Talk about your plans and your steps for achieving them.
- Present an innovative, succinct, funded research project that matches your career plans; remember, the reviewers are looking at the project in the context of how it is helping you reach your potential; they are not reviewing the research project on its own merits.
- A publication record is important; be sure to include explanations for any gaps. Include a plan for enhancing your publication record within your application.
- Mentors are extremely important. Your application should explain precisely how your mentor fits within your research and career development plans. Also, if you have a mentoring team, be sure to explain their role in your career development and how they function as a team.
- Make sure to request recommendation letters in a timely manner, and don’t forget to provide the reference links – once you ask, it is a step that is out of your control, so start early! The NIH LRP website includes helpful information for referees/recommenders.
- Be very specific about all of your resources and space.
Additional Helpful Links:
- NIH Loan Repayment Program Home Page
- Application Process Interactive Roadmap
- Extramural LRP Frequently Asked Questions
- Download LRP Application Instruction Guides from the LRP website
- Tips for Writing a Competitive LRP Application and Common Reasons why LRP Applications aren't Funded
Contact the LRP Information Center: [email protected].