MSN Instructor Kelly Receives NIH LRP Award

MSN instructor Maryellen Kelly recently received a two-year NIH loan repayment program (LRP) award. The objective of the LRP award is to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals in research careers. The NIH selects awards and repays up to $35,000 a year of the awardee's student loan debt.

Kelly's research focuses on lower urinary tract dysfunction in pediatric patients with diabetes. 

The NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) are a set of programs established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. The escalating costs of advanced education and training in medicine and clinical specialties are forcing some scientists to abandon their research careers for higher-paying private industry or private practice careers.

The LRPs counteract that financial pressure by repaying up to $35,000 annually of a researcher's qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research. Since tomorrow's medical breakthroughs will be made by investigators starting in their research careers today, the LRPs represent an important investment by NIH in the future of health discovery and the wellbeing of the Nation.

There are eight LRPs, five for researchers not employed by NIH (Extramural) and three for researchers employed by NIH (Intramural). Research funding from NIH is not required to participate in the Extramural LRPs, and Extramural and Intramural LRP awardees may apply for subsequent, competitive renewal awards as long as they meet Program eligibility. Although organized around broad research areas, the LRPs were never intended to fund research projects. Rather, LRP awards are based on an applicant's potential to build and sustain a research career. Please read below for general eligibility requirements and Program details.