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The Extramural LRP is for researchers who are not employed by NIH. Research funding from NIH is not required to participate, and awardees may apply for competitive renewal awards if they continue to meet eligibility requirements. Although the LRPs are organized around broad research areas, they do not fund research projects. Instead, LRP awards are based on an applicant's potential to develop and sustain a successful research career. Please see below for general eligibility requirements and subcategory details.
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for the Extramural LRP if you meet all five general eligibility criteria listed below by the award start date:
Citizenship – You must be a U.S. citizen, U.S national, or permanent U.S. resident by the award start date.
Qualifying Degree – You must possess an M.D., Ph.D., Pharm.D., Psy.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.P.M., D.C., N.D., O.D., D.V.M., or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited institution. There are some exceptions in the Contraception and Infertility and REACH subcategories.
Qualified Educational Debt – You must have total qualified educational debt equal to or more than 20 percent of your institutional base salary at the time of award. Institutional base salary is the annual amount you are paid for your appointment, whether the time is spent on research, teaching, patient care, or other activities. Institutional base salary excludes any income that you may earn outside of the duties of the organization. Renewal applicants are not required to satisfy the 20 percent debt-to-income requirement.
Qualified Research – You must agree to conduct only research that is not prohibited by Federal law, regulations, or policies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or National Institutes of Health (NIH). If you receive an LRP award, you must conduct your research in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and local law (e.g., applicable human subject protection regulations) for the entire award period. Additionally, you must engage in qualified research for an average of at least 20 hours per week during each quarterly service period of your LRP award.
Domestic, Nonprofit Research Funding – Your research must be supported by a domestic, nonprofit foundation, university, professional association, or other nonprofit institution, or a U.S. government agency (Federal, State, or local). A domestic foundation, professional association, or institution is considered nonprofit if it is exempt from Federal tax under the provisions of Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 501). NIH grants and university salaries are considered eligible funding. Your employer must be a domestic, nonprofit institution.
You are ineligible to apply if you are:
- An individual who is not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent U.S. resident by the LRP award start date;
- An individual who has or had a Federal judgment lien against his/her property arising from Federal debt;
- An individual who owes an obligation of health professional service to the federal government, a state, or other entity, unless deferrals or extensions are granted for the length of the NIH LRP contract;
- An individual employed by a federal government agency, other than NIH, with a work schedule of more than 20 hours per week;
- An individual who receives any research funding support or salary from a for-profit institution or organization, including an individual identified as a Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI in an industry/pharma-supported Clinical Trial;
- A current recipient of an NIH Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) or a Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA);
- An individual conducting research for which funding is precluded by Federal law, Federal regulations, or HHS/NIH policy, or that does not comply with applicable Federal, State, and local law regarding the conduct of the research (e.g., applicable human subject protection regulations);
- An individual who does not meet the 20% debt-to-income ratio.
Extramural LRP Subcategories
| Activity Code | Title | Description | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| L30 | Clinical Research | For investigators conducting patient-oriented clinical research with human subjects or research on disease in human populations involving material of human origin. | NOT-OD-25-091 |
| L32 | Clinical Researchers from Disadvantaged Backgrounds | For clinical investigators coming from an environment that inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skill and ability required to enroll in and graduate from a health professional school, or a family with an annual income below low-income thresholds. | NOT-OD-25-095 |
| L40 | Pediatric Research | For investigators conducting research directly related to diseases, disorders and other conditions in children, including pediatric pharmacological research. | NOT-OD-25-092 |
| L50 | Contraception & Infertility Research | For investigators conducting research in conditions that result in the failure of couples to either conceive or bear young, or research on providing new or improved methods of preventing pregnancy. | NOT-OD-25-096 |
| L60 | Health Disparities Research | For investigators conducting research that focuses on one or more of the health disparity populations defined by NIMHD and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. | NOT-OD-25-093 |
| L70 | Research in Emerging Areas Critical to Human Health (REACH) | For investigators pursuing major opportunities or gaps in emerging high-priority research areas, as defined by NIH Institutes and Centers. |
NOT-OD-25-094
Priority Statements |
Extramural LRP Application Toolkit
Apply for Extramural LRP
Learn how you can apply for the LRP through ASSIST, including what you need before applying, as well as helpful tools and resources.
Important Information
Explore key details about the Extramural LRP, including the review process, benefits, contractual obligations, key dates and deadlines, how to prepare an application, and loan requirements.
Reference Letters and Certification
All LRP applications require reference letters and certification from an Institutional Business Official (IBO). Learn more about the individuals who must submit supporting documents and their roles in the application process.
LRP Program Officers
Twenty-four NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) participate in the Extramural LRP, each with a designated LRP Program Officer. Applicants are encouraged to contact one or two Program Officers at ICs that best align with their research interests to discuss their goals, research plans, and how they fit with the IC’s current research priorities.
Ambassadors
The LRP Ambassador Program is a network of current and former LRP awardees who promote the NIH LRPs across the extramural research community. Ambassadors offer guidance and encouragement to potential applicants, sharing insights and experiences to support successful applications.