NIH EXTRAMURAL LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM REGARDING PEDIATRIC RESEARCHERS

RELEASE DATE:  October 10, 2002

NOTICE:  NOT-OD-03-005 

National Institutes of Health

APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE:  5 PM EST, November 30, 2002

THIS NOTICE CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION

o  Purpose of this Notice
o  Program Objectives
o  Funds Available
o  Eligible Applicants
o  Eligible Institutions
o  Where to Send Inquiries
o  Submitting an Application
o  Receipt and Peer Review Process
o  Receipt, Review and Award Schedule
o  Award Criteria
o  Required Federal Citations

PURPOSE OF THIS NOTICE

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces the 2003 Extramural 
Loan Repayment Program for Pediatric Researchers (PR-LRP). The PR-LRP 
provides for the repayment of educational loan debt of qualified health 
professionals who agree to conduct pediatric research for two years.  
The program provides for the repayment of up to $35,000 of the 
principal and interest of the educational loans.  The program covers 
the Federal taxes on the loan repayments which are considered taxable 
income to program participants.  

The 2003 PR-LRP differs from the 2002 program in that the awards are no 
longer restricted to NIH grantees, as described below in the 
eligibility criteria. 

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The objective of the Program is the recruitment and retention of highly 
qualified health professionals to careers as pediatric investigators.   

Pediatric research is defined as research that is directly related to 
diseases, disorders, and other conditions in children.  

The NIH invites qualified health professionals who meet program 
eligibility requirements to apply for participation in the NIH Loan 
Repayment Program for Pediatric Researchers.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

The NIH intends to commit approximately $16,000,000 in Fiscal Year 2003 
to fund 340 Pediatric Research LRP awards. 

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Specific eligibility criteria for the PR-LRP include the following:

Applicants must be United States citizens, nationals, or 
permanent residents.
 
Applicants must have an M.D., Ph.D., Pharm.D., D.O., D.D.S., 
D.M.D., D.P.M., D.V.M., D.C., N.D., or equivalent doctoral degree 
from an accredited institution.
 
Applicants must be supported by a non-profit institution, 
foundation, professional society or U.S. government entity 
(Federal, state, or local) and commit 50% or more of their time, 
or not less than 20 hours per week, to pediatric research.  

Applicants must have total qualifying educational debt that is 
greater than or equal to 20 percent of their institutional base 
salary at the time of award, expected to be between June 1 and 
August 1, 2003.  Institutional base is the annual amount that the 
organization pays for the participant's appointment, whether the 
time is spent in research, teaching, patient care, or other 
activities.  Institutional base salary excludes any income that a 
participant may earn outside the duties of the organization.  
Institutional base salary may not include or be comprised of any 
income (salary or wages) earned as a Federal employee.  

The applicant's institution must provide assurance to the NIH 
that the applicant will be provided pediatric research support for two 
years, that the applicant will engage in qualified pediatric research 
for 50% or more of his/her time, or not less than 20 hours per week, and 
that the institution is non-profit.  The institution also certifies the 
applicant's institutional base salary.  

Applicants must agree to conduct research for which funding is 
not prohibited by Federal law, regulations, or DHHS/NIH policy.  
Recipients who receive LRP awards must conduct their research in 
accordance with applicable Federal, state and local law (e.g., 
applicable human subject protection regulations).

No individual may submit more than one LRP application to the NIH in any fiscal 
year.  Individuals who have applied previously for the PR-LRP but did not 
receive an award are eligible to submit a new application if they meet the above 
eligibility criteria. 

Any individual who has a Federal judgment lien against his/her property 
arising from a Federal debt is barred from receiving Federal funds,
until the judgment is paid in full or satisfied.
 
Individuals with existing service obligations to Federal, State or other 
entities will not be considered for an award unless the existing service 
is discharged or deferred for the duration of the Loan Repayment contract. 

A current recipient of postdoctoral National Research Service Award support from 
an individual postdoctoral fellowship (F32) or an institutional research 
training grant (T32) will not be eligible for loan repayment during the second 
year of NRSA support without a formal deferral of the NRSA service repayment 
(see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-02-109.html).  Concurrent 
repayment of service obligations is prohibited.  Participation in an NIH LRP is 
only permissible by first satisfying the NRSA service obligation, which is 
satisfied either by completing the second year of NRSA support or by requesting 
a deferral of the NRSA service repayment.  For more information on terms and 
conditions for specific types of grants, grantees, and activities, see Subpart 
B, Part II of the NIH Grants Policy Statement 
(https://grants.nih.gov/archive/grants/policy/nihgps_2001/part_iib_5.htm#_Toc504812118).

Full-time employees of Federal government agencies are ineligible 
to apply for LRP benefits.  Part-time Federal employees who 
engage in qualifying research as part of their non-Federal duties 
for an outside entity for at least 20 hours per week are eligible 
to apply for loan repayment if they meet all other eligibility 
requirements.   

Applicants will not be excluded from consideration under the 
Program on the basis of age, race, culture, religion, gender, 
sexual orientation, disability, or other non-merit factors. 

ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS

Applicants must conduct qualifying research supported by a non-profit 
foundation, non-profit professional society or other non-profit 
institution or a U.S. government entity (Federal, state, or local).  A 
foundation, professional society or institution is considered to be 
non-profit if exempt from Federal tax under the provisions of Section 
501 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 USC 501).
 
WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES

For questions on the PR-LRP program, please see the LRP website at  
www.lrp.nih.gov, send an email to lrp@nih.gov or telephone the LRP 
helpline at (866) 849-4047.  

Direct your remaining questions regarding scientific matters to the 
relevant NIH program contact listed on the LRP website at 
http://www.lrp.nih.gov/contact/index.htm.
  
SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

All potential applicants are encouraged to read the eligibility 
requirements, benefits, and application procedures for the PR-LRP 
program located at the LRP website at 
http://www.lrp.nih.gov/about/extramural/contactgrid.htm.  

Applications are collected electronically and must be submitted via the 
LRP Website at www.lrp.nih.gov by November 30, 2002 at 5 PM EST.

RECEIPT AND PEER REVIEW PROCESS

Complete applications must be received by the receipt date and time 
listed in the heading of this Notice.    

Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for eligibility and completeness 
by the Office of Loan Repayment, NIH.  Incomplete or ineligible applications 
will not be considered.  Applications that are complete and eligible will 
be referred to the appropriate NIH Institute for peer review by the NIH 
Center for Scientific Review (CSR).  In evaluating the application, 
reviewers will be directed to consider the following components as they 
relate to the likelihood that the applicant will continue in a pediatric 
research career:

a.  Potential of the applicant to pursue a career in pediatric 
research.
  
o Appropriateness of the applicant's previous training and 
experience to prepare him/her for a pediatric research career.
o Suitability of the applicant's proposed pediatric research 
activities in the two-year loan repayment period to foster a 
research career.  
o Assessment of the applicant's commitment to a research career as 
reflected by the personal statement of long-term career goals and 
the plan outlined to achieve those goals.
o Strength of recommendations attesting to the applicant's potential 
for a research career.

b.  Quality of the overall environment to prepare the applicant for a 
pediatric research career.

o Availability of appropriate scientific colleagues to achieve 
and/or enhance the applicant's research independence.
o Quality and appropriateness of institutional resources and 
facilities.

The following information is furnished by the applicant or others on 
behalf of the applicant (forms are completed electronically at the NIH 
LRP Web-site, www.lrp.nih.gov):

Applicants electronically transmit the following to the NIH Office of 
Loan Repayment:

1.  Applicant Information Statement
2.  Biosketch 
3.  Personal Statement, which includes a discussion of career goals 
and academic objectives.
4.  Description of Research Activities, which describes the current 
or proposed research project including the specific responsibilities 
and role of the applicant in conducting the research.  The research 
supervisor or mentor will be asked to concur in the research project 
description provided by the applicant.  
5.  Identification of Three Recommenders (one of whom is identified 
as the research supervisor or mentor).
6.  Identification of Institutional Contact
7.  On-line Certification
8.  Loan Information, including current account statement(s), and     
promissory note(s) or disclosure statement(s), obtained from lending 
institution(s), submitted via facsimile to 866-849-4046
9.  If applying based on NIH support, Notice of Grant/Award (or PHS 
2271 for T32 recipients)

Research supervisors or mentors electronically transmit the following 
to the NIH Office of Loan Repayment:

1.  Recommendation
2.  Biosketch 
3.  Assessment of the Research Activities Statement submitted by 
the applicant
4.  Description of the Research Environment, which provides 
detailed information about the lab where the applicant is or will 
be conducting research, including funding, lab space, and major 
areas under investigation.  
5.  Training or Mentoring Plan, which includes a detailed 
discussion of the training or mentoring plan, including a 
discussion of the research methods and scientific techniques to 
be taught.  This document is completed by the research supervisor 
or mentor and is submitted for all applicants (except for 
applicants with an NIH R01 equivalent grant).  
6.  Biosketch of a laboratory staff member if involved in 
training or mentoring the applicant.

The other recommenders electronically transmit recommendations to 
the NIH Office of Loan Repayment.  

Institutional Contacts electronically transmit the following to the 
NIH Office of Loan Repayment:

1.  A certification that: (a) assures the applicant will be 
provided the necessary time and resources to engage in the 
research project for two years from the date a Loan Repayment 
Program Contract is executed; (b) assures that the applicant is 
or will be engaged in qualifying research for 50 percent of their 
work effort, or not less than 20 hours per week; (c) certifies 
that the institution is non-profit (exempt from tax under 26 USC 
501), and (d) provides the applicant's institutional base salary.    

RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE

Application Receipt Date:      November 30, 2002, 5 PM EST
Peer Review Date:              March-May, 2003
Anticipated Start Date:        June-August, 2003

AWARD CRITERIA

Award criteria that will be used to make award decisions include:

o  Merit (as determined by peer review)
o  Availability of funds

REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS

Awards are made pursuant to the Children's Health Act of 2000 (Public 
Law 106-310), which added Section 487F  of the Public Health Service 
(PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. 288-6).  The Federal Debt Collections Procedures 
Act of 1990, contained in Public Law 101-647, requires that an 
individual that has a judgment lien against his/her property for a debt 
to the United States shall not be eligible to receive funds directly 
from the Federal government in any program, except funds to which the 
debtor is entitled as a beneficiary, until the judgment is paid in full 
or otherwise satisfied (28 USC 3201).  The Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance number for the LRP for Pediatric Researchers is 93.285.

So in law.  There are two sections 487F.  Section 1002(b) of Public Law 106-310 
(114 Stat. 1129), inserted  section 487F above.  Subsequently, section 205 of 
Public Law 106-505 (114 Stat. 2329), which relates to a Loan Repayment Program 
for Clinical Researchers, inserted a section 487F after section 487E.

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