Grant Community.com

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

93.220:  Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds

Popular Name:  NIH Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program; CR LRP

Objectives:  To recruit and retain individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to conduct clinical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by providing for the repayment of educational loans for participants with substantial amounts of educational debt relative to income, who agree by written contract to engage in clinical research as employees of the NIH for a minimum two-year period.

PROGRAM AND AWARD FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS


93.220 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Eligible applicants must (1) Be citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States; (2) have a M.D., PH.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.M.D., B.S.N./A.D.N., or an equivalent degree; (3) come from a disadvantaged background as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (4) have qualified educational debt, which results from governmental or commercial loans obtained to support their undergraduate and/or graduate education, in excess of 20 percent of their annual NIH salary on the program eligibility date; (5) be appointed under any temporary or permanent employment mechanism, so long as their employment has the potential to last a minimum of 2 years; (6) are not eligible to participate in the CR-LRP if they have an existing service obligation to Federal, State, or other entities, until such obligation is discharged or unless it is deferred during the period of program service; (7) submit an application to participate in the CR-LRP; and (8) sign and submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, at the time of agreeing to accept repayment of educational loans, a contract agreeing to engage in clinical research as an employee of the NIH for a minimum of 2 years.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Clinical researchers who have unpaid educational loans will benefit from this program.

Credentials/Documentation:  Applicants must submit documentation of the following, as appropriate: (1) Copies of loan applications and agreements from governmental or commercial educational loans which are being submitted for repayment; (2) copies of the standard student budget from each school attended during period when debt was incurred; (3) copies of recommendations, special skills, certifications, or other copies of loan documentation; (4) proof of citizenship if the applicant was not born in the U.S.; (5) certification from the school (s) attended that the applicant qualified for participation in an educational assistance program for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds which are sponsored by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or self-certification describing circumstances which qualify him/her under the Secretary's definition of an individual from a disadvantaged background; and (6) other documentation as may be required by law.

93.220 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Applicants should request an application package from the Program Director; complete the required information; and return it to the Program Director. (See Headquarters Office section listed below for address.) Once an application package is received, it will be reviewed by the Loan Repayment Committee at a regularly scheduled review meeting and a determination of loan repayment recipients will be made.

Award Procedure:  The NIH Loan Repayment Committee (LRC) will review, rank, and approve or disapprove applications recommended for program participation by each Institute or Center (IC). The LRC approves for participation those applicants who propose to perform qualified clinical research as employees of the NIH. Applications approved for program participation by the LRC will be notified by the Program Director. The Secretary, or his designee, will sign the service contract of program participants, provide a copy to the participant, and notice of the amount of approved loan repayment.

Deadlines:  Contact the Headquarters Office listed below for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  The approximate time for approval/disapproval is 3 months.

Appeals:  Employees of the NIH who are not approved as a result of this process may ask for reconsideration through the standard appeal procedures available to employees.

Renewals:  At the conclusion of the initial 2-year contract, participants may apply and be recommended for subsequent 1-year continuation contracts under the application and approval procedures specified above.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Applicants are approved for participation in the NIH Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program after the LRC determines that the applicant will conduct qualified clinical research and qualifies as being from a disadvantaged background. LRC approval, in part, is based upon the scientific merit of the research and the credentials of the applicant and supervisor as they relate to performing qualified clinical research.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Clinical and basic research designed to develop better methods for detection, prevention and therapy for patients with kidney cancer. Research on the molecular genetics and protein chemistry of tumor suppressor genes and in particular, the VHL gene. Studies into the treatment of adult solid tumors, and laboratory research projects in tumor immunology and morphology. Clinical and laboratory investigation into the mechanisms and therapeutics of osteoporosis. Investigation of the role of the IGF system in the microvascular complications of diabetes; development of animal model of chronicgranulomatous disease for the development of therapeutic strategies; studies designed to elucidate the genetic factors that predispose to the development of noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; studies on human iron metabolism and the molecular events that control the expression of genes encoding proteins of iron metabolism; and studies of the pathogenesis of asthma and pathogenesis and therapy of systemic mastocytosis.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Dollar assistance per annum is estimated to be $22,086 in loan repayments and $8,613 in tax reimbursements. Largest award is $35,000 and $13,650 per annum for loan repayments and tax reimbursements, respectively.

93.220 RELATED PROGRAMS:

  • 93.936 National Institutes of Health Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Research Loan Repayment Program;
  • 93.162 National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program;
  • 93.164 Indian Health Service Educational Loan Repayment;
  • 93.288 National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program;
  • 93.342 Health Professions Student Loans;
  • 93.364 Nursing Student Loans;
  • 93.972 Health Professions Scholarship Program.

93.220 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Thirteen awards were made in fiscal year 1999, 14 awards are anticipated in fiscal year 2000. It is anticipated that 14 awards will be made in fiscal year 2001.

93.220 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Loan Repayments) FY 99 $504,232; FY 00 est $585,801; and FY 01 est $644,381.

Budget Account Number:  75-0846-0-1-552.

Authorization:  Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Subtitle D, Part G, Section 1631, Public Law 103-43, 107 Stat. 185, 42 U.S.C. 288-5, Public Law 105-392.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Pertinent information is contained in Public Law 103-43, Section 1631; Section 487E of Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 288-5); Public Law 105-392; Federal Register, Volume 59, No. 201, October 19, 1994; 42 CFR Part 68a Federal Register, Volume 63, No. 210, October 30, 1998.

93.220 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Program and Business Contact: Marc S. Horowitz, J.D., Office of Loan Repayment and Scholarship, National Institutes of Health, 7550 Wisconsin Ave., Federal Bldg., Room 604, Bethesda, MD 20892-9121. Phone: (800) 528-7689. Facsimile: (301) 480-5481. Use the same numbers for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

93.220 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Assistance is available for a minimum 2-year period. One-year, continuation contracts and assistance are available for individuals whose educational debt exceeds the maximum repayable amount for 2 years. Payments are made directly to lenders, following each quarter of the participant's satisfactory service, unless otherwise agreed upon by the participant and Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  To provide repayment of extant educational loans incurred by health professionals engaged, as employees of the NIH, in clinical research. Recipients must agree by written contract to engage in such research, initially, for a minimum of 2 years; individuals who have conflicting service obligations may not participate in this program until those obligations are satisfied or have been deferred during the period of program service. One-year continuation contracts are available, dependent upon the level of debt and continued involvement in clinical research. Maximum program benefit is $35,000 per year in loan repayments and $13,650 per year in Federal tax reimbursements. Recipients must have qualified educational debt in excess of 20 percent of their annual salary, which is referred to as their "debt threshold." Loans equal to half of this "debt threshold" will not be repaid by NIH and must be paid by the Program participants.

93.220 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Program participants must be certified periodically to have satisfactorily performed the duties of their positions.

Audits:  None.

Records:  The NIH will maintain applicant records for 3 years after rejection and participant records for 6 years after completion of final service obligation.

About    News     Grant Management Software     Federal Grant Programs    Audits    Studies    Expenditures     Links

Last Updated, November, 2000             Comments or Questions?           ©Grant Community.com 2000, All Rights Reserved