NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP) Update
August 13, 2025 - 03:24PM - by Sophie Forman
The NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP) Notices for FY 2026 have been published. Although organized around broad research areas, the LRPs were never intended to directly fund research projects. Rather, LRP awards are based on an applicant's potential to build and sustain a research career and repay eligible student loans.
In return for loan repayments, LRP awardees are legally bound to a service obligation to conduct qualifying research supported by a domestic nonprofit or U.S. government (federal, state, or local) entity for 50 percent of their time (at least 20 hours per week based on a 40-hour week) for two years. NIH makes quarterly loan repayments concurrent with the awardees’ satisfaction of their service obligation. All research needs to fall within NHGRI’s mission.
This is an excellent program supported by the NIH to ease the burden of student loan debt while working in research; NIH spends ~$50M per year on this program.
The application deadline for an FY 2026 Extramural LRP award will be on Thursday, November 20, 2025. See below for links to the notices.
NOT-OD-25-091 - Clinical Research (LRP-CR)
- Clinical research is defined as patient-oriented research conducted with human subjects, or research on the causes and consequences of disease in human populations involving material of human origin (such as tissue specimens and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator or colleague directly interacts with human subjects in an outpatient or inpatient setting to clarify a problem in human physiology, pathophysiology or disease, epidemiologic or behavioral studies, outcomes or health services research, or developing new technologies, therapeutic interventions, or clinical trials.
NOT-OD-25-092 - Pediatric Research (LRP-PR)
NOT-OD-25-093 - Health Disparities Research (LRP-HDR)
NOT-OD-25-094 - Research in Emerging Areas Critical to Human Health (LRP-REACH)
- NHGRI is using the LRP-REACH to focus on MS and PhD-level genetic counselors: https://www.lrp.nih.gov/reach-priority-statements
- NHGRI is the only IC including genetic counselors
NOT-OD-25-095 - Clinical Researchers from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (LRP-CRDB)
NOT-OD-25-096 - Contraception & Infertility Research (LRP-CIR)
ELSI Revised NOFOs
April 09, 2025 - 02:34PM - by Sophie Forman
Please note that the language and requirements in the NOFOs have been revised, and all potential applicants should carefully read through the entire NOFO before applying. As always, the ELSI Program Directors (Sheethal, Dave, Nicole, & Rene) are happy to talk to anyone interested in applying.
- R01 PAR-25-371, Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
- R21 PAR-25-369, Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
- R03 PAR-25-370, Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Small Research Grant (R03 Clinical Trial Optional)
DEADLINE EXTENDED, Now April 14th: NCI/AcademyHealth Visiting Scholars Program
March 12, 2025 - 09:41PM - by Sophie Forman
DEADLINE EXTENDED: NCI/AcademyHealth Healthcare Delivery Research Visiting Scholars Program Applications are now due April 14. SUBMIT INTENT TO APPLY » Extended Full Application Deadline:
Monday, April 14, 2025 | 5:00 p.m. ETApplications for the opportunity to spend a year conducting research part-time with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) are now due Monday, April 14. The NCI/AcademyHealth Healthcare Delivery Research Visiting Scholars Program provides mid-career professionals the opportunity to develop new research directions and address high-priority needs for the field of health services research and health care delivery. This unique program offers a potential fellow the chance to advance both their own career goals and have an immediate impact on the field. NOTE: Once applicants submit a brief Intent to Apply form, they will receive a link to the full application. Questions? Visit our FAQ page. There are several benefits of becoming an NCI scholar, including: A one-year membership to AcademyHealth.
Complimentary registration to attend the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting (ARM) and the Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health (D&I).
Opportunities to present research findings during a poster session at the ARM and a public webinar at the conclusion of the year-long program.
Inviting Feedback on the Framework for the NIH Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research FY26-FY30
January 08, 2025 - 07:38PM - by Sophie Forman
There has been a recently released Request for Information (RFI): Inviting Feedback on the Framework for the NIH Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research FY26-FY30 (NOT-OD-25-038). The draft framework was written in collaboration with the Disability Research Coordinating Committee (DRCC) and sets forth several cross-cutting themes, strategic goals, and potential opportunities for promoting the health and well-being of people with disabilities.
We are seeking input on the framework from a wide range of interested individuals and organizations, including people with disabilities, health care professionals, researchers in academia and industry, and advocates and advocacy organizations, among many others. Responses will be used to help shape the framework and the ensuing strategic plan that will be developed by the DRCC and is anticipated for release in summer 2025.
Interested parties are encouraged to review the framework and respond to the RFI by March 12, 2025, to ensure consideration of their submission. Again, the RFI is accessible at: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-25-038.html