Doctoral Degree Holders May Be Able To Repay Student Loans While Exploring Clinical or Pediatric Research Careers in Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

September 7, 2004

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is encouraging eligible individuals to take advantage of two recently reissued initiatives within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Program (LRP). Health professionals who have significant educational debt and agree to conduct clinical or pediatric research in areas that fall within the NIDCD's scientific mission are eligible to apply.

The two programs, the Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Clinical Researchers and the Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Pediatric Researchers are intended to attract health professionals to research careers in these areas by providing up to $35,000 per year for up to two years to help defray their educational loans. Participation in the LRP requires an agreement to conduct research at least 20 hours per week over the 2-year period of the loan repayment award.

Applicants must be doctoral-level health professionals with U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status. Their clinical or pediatric research must be funded by nonprofit (e.g., institutional, professional/voluntary society) or government (Federal, state or local) sources. Awards are renewable.

Applications are submitted electronically via the LRP website, http://www.lrp.nih.gov, and must be received by December 15, 2004. A wealth of information about these programs is available on this web site, as well as through the LRP Help Line: (866) 849-4047.

In particular, individuals funded on NIH Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) postdoctoral traineeships and fellowships should consult the Q & As on the LRP web site to understand the interface of an LRP award with their service payback obligation under the NRSA Program.

Approximately 57% of LRP applications reviewed by the NIH in Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 have been funded. The NIDCD had sufficient funds allocated for these programs in FY 2004 to award all meritorious applications it received. NIDCD is very supportive of these programs and would like to see more eligible individuals apply.

For additional information, contact

Daniel A. Sklare, Ph.D.
Research Training Officer and LRP Coordinator
Division of Scientific Programs
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Executive Plaza So, Rm 400C
6120 Executive Blvd, MSC-7180
Bethesda, MD 20892-7180 (for regular mail)
Rockville, MD 20852 (courier/express mail)
Tel: (301) 496-1804
Fax: (301) 402-6251
E-mail: sklared@nidcd.nih.gov

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Page last updated: September 8, 2004