Pharmacists may qualify for NIH student loan repayments up to $100,000

The National Institute of Health (NIH) has recently expanded options for pharmacists to engage in their Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs), and can apply by Friday, Nov. 20 for this year’s programs.  

To complete this LRP, pharmacists would complete a two-year research program for a nonprofit or government program in either a biomedical or biobehavioral field. By committing to this program, the NIH would offer to repay a pharmacist’s student loans, up to $50,000 per year, according to the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). 

LRPs were originally established by the U.S. Congress to promote the advancement of biomedical and biobehavioral research. The programs also offered incentives to attract high-level medical professionals.  

In addition to eligibility requirements, the applicants may select between five areas of focus for the two-year research programs. The categories include pediatrics, health disparities, contraception and fertility, and the health of communities from disadvantaged backgrounds.  

For this year’s application cycle, the NIH has increased the opportunities for pharmacists particularly interested in studying health disparities. Before this year, all health disparity LRP applications were sent to the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities for review and selection. Now, applicants can select from over 20 NIH facilities that fund these programs.  

To assist pharmacists in the application process, the NIH has also developed an LRP Ambassador Program to pair prospective applicants with current LRP recipients. Through these pairings, applicants can seek advice and support through their ambassadors, who can guide and encourage them through the application process. 

The NIH is working to continue expanding its ambitions into 2021 and beyond. Beginning on Sept. 1, 2021, the NIH will include a new category to study research in emerging areas of critical human health, also known as REACH. This will allow pharmacists and medical professionals to explore new and lesser-explored fields of research, which in turn could attract more pharmacists to the program. 

For more information on eligibility and how to apply, visit www.lrp.nih.gov.