The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which is the nation’s medical research agency (NIH.gov, 2011). The foundation for the NIH originated in 1887 in a laboratory in the Marine Hospital Service (NIH.org, 2011). The NIH provides the largest source of funding for medicine in the world by funding scientists in higher education and research institutions in the U.S. and globe (NIH.org, 2011). The NIH is composed of 27 institutes and centers which receive their funding from Congress (NIH.org, 2011).
In 2009, the NIH produced a report entitled “NIH LRP Evaluation: Extramural Loan Repayment Programs, Fiscal Years 2003-2007,” which reviews programs aimed at attracting and retaining health professionals in research careers. To help relieve the debt burden from student loans, the NIH offers an Extramural Loan Repayment Program (LRP) which provides individuals the opportunity to repay up to $35,000 per year of eligible educational debt in exchange for a two-year commitment (NIH, 2009). Since 2001, the NIH has awarded more than $347 million in the LRP (NIH, 2009). The report evaluates three areas: are LRPs attracting new researchers with high debt, do the LRPs positively affect career outcomes for participants, and how do LRPs compare to other NIH career development award programs (NIH, 2009)?
Since 2003, the results show that new applicants (about 1,900) apply every year. Programs from Pediatric and Clinical Research fund over 80% of new applicants (NIH, 2009). Based on demographics of new PhD and MD classes, LRPs attracts more woman and minorities, however there is no gender difference in success rate. The report indicates that LRPs are attracting early career researchers with 72% of applicants applying within six years of receiving their degree (NIH, 2009). When it comes to retention, LRPs are losing women awardees (NIH, 2009). Overall, the LRPs are attracting newer (earlier in research careers) applicants than the career program (K) for postdoctoral fellows (NIH, 2009). Woman awardees from the K program were more likely to apply for subsequent NIH grant support and continue to be a part of the NIH extramural workforce than the LRPs (NIH, 2009). Overall, the evaluation deemed the LRPs to be a successful model for attaining the program goals (NIH, 2009).
The report did not make any claims towards higher education debt accumulation. It recognized the burden placed on career researchers in the field of health, but made no political statements. The results showed that LRP awardees had more debt than recent doctoral graduates (NIH, 2009).
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2009). NIH LRP evaluation: Extramural loan repayment programs, fiscal years 2003-2007. Retrieved from http://www.lrp.nih.gov/pdf/LRP_Evaluation_Report_508final06082009.pdf
NIH.gov. (2011). About NIH. Retrieved from http://www.nih.gov/about/
