The UCLA CTSI and DGSOM Office of Physician Scientist Career Development held this webinar to provide information on the NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP). This funding is designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. The LRPs counteract financial pressure by repaying up to $50,000 annually of a researcher's qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research.

1. NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP)
Informational Webinar – Sept 26,
2023
Presentation facilitated by Patricia A. Ganz, MD
Co-Director, DGSOM Office of Physician-Scientist Career
Development (OPSCD)
Guests: Benjamin Meza, MD and Kathleen Van Dyk, PhD who
will speak about their experiences as applicants and
recipients of funding from the NIH LRP
Sponsors: UCLA CTSI and DGSOM OPSCD

2. What is the NIH LRP?
• A federal grant opportunity that supports repayment of
educational loans for scientists engaged in research.
• Designed to counteract the financial pressure of staying
in a research career by repaying the applicant’s qualified
educational debt in return for a commitment to engage
in NIH mission-relevant research at universities, medical
centers, and other U.S. institutions.
• The LRPs will repay up to $50,000 toward your
outstanding, eligible educational debt for each year of
the two-year award. In return, you must agree to conduct
qualified research activities during the award period.

3. What is qualified research?
Research supported by a domestic nonprofit foundation,
nonprofit professional association, or other nonprofit
institution (e.g., university), or a U.S. or other government
agency (Federal, state or local). The Extramural LRP includes
subcategories that focus on:
• Clinical Research
• Pediatric Research
• Health Disparities Research
• Research in Emerging Areas Critical to Human Health (REACH)
• Clinical Research for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds
• Contraception & Infertility Research

4. Who is eligible to apply?
You are eligible to apply to the NIH LRP if you:
• are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident
• possess a doctoral level degree*
• have qualifying educational debt equal to or more than 20 percent
of your institutional base salary
• conduct qualifying research supported by a domestic nonprofit
foundation, nonprofit professional association, or other nonprofit
institution, or a U.S. government agency (federal, state, or local)
• perform qualified research for at least 20 hours per week
*Exceptions may apply to the Contraception & Infertility Research or REACH subcategories.

6. Which loans qualify?
NIH will repay lenders for the existing principal and interest on
loans obtained from qualifying U.S. Government (Federal,
State, local) or chartered U.S. academic institutions, and
commercial educational lenders obtained for the following:
• Undergraduate, graduate, and health professional school tuition
expenses.
• Other reasonable educational expenses required bythe school(s)
attended, including fees, books, supplies,educational equipment and
materials, and laboratory expenses; and
• Reasonable living expenses, including the cost of room and board,
transportation and commuting costs, and other living expenses as
determined by the Secretary.
For more information on loan eligibility, see the Loan Information section:

7. What is the review process?
Applications are peer reviewed and evaluated
on
(1) the applicant’s potential to pursue a
career in research, and
(2) the quality of the overall environment to
prepare the applicant for a research
career.

8. Introducing our guests…
Benjamin Meza, MD - Recipient in 2021 & 2023
Grant Title: Longitudinal Effects of School Climate on Adolescent Social Networks and
Substance Use
Bio: Dr. Meza is an Assistant Professor-in-Residence in the UCLA Department of Medicine
Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research. He is an internal
medicine and pediatrics trained clinician-investigator whose research interests include the
role of social networks in health equity and development throughout the life course. He is
currently studying the effect of cooperative group goals on the formation of social networks
and prevention of adolescent substance use.

9. Pragmatic Issues
• Who should apply and when in the research career
trajectory is a good time to apply?
- Fellowship vs. Faculty
- Need a mentor, but not a mentored career award
- Multiple program announcements for the award—need to explore
the REACH goals for each of the NIH institutes as well as the
specialized calls in e.g., pediatric research, health disparities
research, clinical research
• Need to have a research project during the following year
after application that will require at least 20 hours/week

10. Format of the Application
• Abstract
• Research Activities (8 pages including references)
• Personal Statement (1 page)
• Research Environment (1 page)
• Career Development Plan (1-2 pages)
• Training/Mentoring Plan (2 pages)
• NIH Biosketch for applicant and mentor
• Also need letter of support from the primary mentor and
letters of recommendation from other references

11. Tips for writing a competitive
application
• Connect with an LRP Liaison at the NIH institute/center to discuss
research goals.
• Know the funding priorities of your NIH Institute or Center (IC).
• Effectively demonstrate your qualifications and commitment to
research.
• Collaborate with your mentor(s) to effectively communicate
resources and support.
• Show a strong research plan.
• Provide strong letters of recommendation.
• Ensure a positive overall impression.

12. Next steps…
• Review the program announcements for LRP application on
the informational website: https://www.lrp.nih.gov/
• Discuss with your mentor whether or not this is the right time
to apply and if there is a defined research program for you in
the year ahead
• Determine whether or not your research fits well with the LRP
areas of interest
• Remember, the LRP will not pay your salary, but it will reduce
your debt so you will not have this financial responsibility
during your research training or early faculty career
• Take a look at some example applications that we will make
available through the CTSI

13. Program Announcements
Related Announcements
•July 3, 2023 - Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Clinical Researchers (LRP-CR). See
Notice NOT-OD-23-142.
•July 3, 2023 - Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Health Disparities Research (LRP-
HDR). See Notice NOT-OD-23-144.
•July 3, 2023 - Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Research in Emerging Areas
Critical to Human Health (LRP-REACH). See Notice NOT-OD-23-145.
•July 3, 2023 - Extramural Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program for Individuals from
Disadvantaged Backgrounds (LRP-IDB). See Notice NOT-OD-23-146.
•July 3, 2023 - Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Contraception and Infertility
Research (LRP-CIR). See Notice NOT-OD-23-147.
•July 1, 2022 - Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Pediatric Research (LRP-PR). See
Notice NOT-OD-22-149.

14. Key dates
Application due date: November 16, 2023
NIH LRP resources:
October 2 – LRP Technical Assistance
Webinar
November 6 – Ask Me Anything session-
offered but link not yet available

15. Why should you consider
applying?
• A wonderful way to eliminate personal debt
associated with past educational expenses
• A prestigious federal award that is competitive and
acknowledged as an academic achievement
• A mini-version of a K-award that facilitates ongoing
research with a mentor—will this be the mentor you
plan to continue working with or have you identified
others?
• Provides experience with small scale grant writing

16. Questions????