It is anticipated that NCMHD will make 35 awards for fiscal year 2007.

Uses and Use Restrictions

To provide repayment of existing educational loan debt incurred by health professionals from disadvantaged backgrounds engaged in clinical research.

Recipients must execute a written contract agreeing to engage in such research for a minimum of two years.

The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, or the Secretary's designee, may grant extension contracts for a one-year or two-year period after the completion of the initial two-year contract, provided that the participant applies for an extension, continues to engage in qualified research, and there is sufficient repayable debt remaining.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

An applicant must: (1) be a United States citizen, national, or permanent resident; (2) have an M.D., Ph.D., Pharm.D., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.C., N.D., or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited institution; (3) come from a disadvantaged background; (4) conduct research that is supported by a non-profit institution, foundation, professional society or U.S.

government entity, (4) commit 50 percent or more of his/her time to clinical research; (5) have total qualifying educational debt greater than or equal to 20 percent of his/her institutional base salary at the time of award; (7) conduct research in accordance with applicable Federal, state and local law; (8) not be under any existing service obligations to Federal, State, or other entities, unless and until the existing service obligation is discharged or deferred during the period of program service; (9) not have Federal judgment liens against their property arising from a Federal debt from receiving Federal funds until all judgments have been paid in full or otherwise satisfied; (10) not be a full-time employee of a Federal government agency.

Part-time Federal employees who engage in qualifying research as part of their non-Federal duties are eligible to apply for loan repayment if they meet all other eligibility requirements; and (11) have the institution provide an assurance that the applicant will be provided research support for two years, that the applicant will engage in qualified clinical research for 50 percent of his/her time, that the funding foundation, professional society, or institution is considered to be non-profit pursuant to Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code or is a U.S.

government entity, and certify the applicant's annual institutional base salary.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Qualified health professionals from a disadvantaged background who conduct clinical research and who possess substantial unpaid educational debt relative to income will benefit from this program.

Credentials/Documentation

An applicant must submit the following documentation electronically: (1) Applicant Information Statement; (2) Biosketch; (3) Personal Statement, which includes a discussion of career goals and academic objectives; (4) Description of Research Activities; (5) Contact Information of Three Recommenders; (6) Contact Information of Institution Official able to serve as the Institutional Contact; (7) On-line Certification; (8) Loan Information; (9) Notice of Grant/Award (or PHS 2271 for T32 recipients), if applying based on NIH support; and (10) Certification of Disadvantaged Background. The Research supervisor or mentor must electronically submit the following: (1) Recommendation; (2) Biosketch; (3) Assessment of the Research Activities Statement submitted by the applicant; (4) Description of the Research Environment; and (5) Training or Mentoring Plan. Recommenders must submit their recommendations electronically. Institutional Contacts must electronically submit a certification that: (1) assures the applicant will be provided the necessary time and resources to engage in the research project for two years from the date a Loan Repayment Program Contract is executed; (2) assures that the applicant is or will be engaged in qualifying research for 50 percent of his/her time, i.e., not less than 20 hours per week; (3) certifies that the funding foundation, professional society, or institution is considered to be non-profit as provided under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 501) or is a U.S. government entity (Federal, state or local); and (4) provides the applicant's institutional base salary.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Not applicable.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

An application for participation in the program can be obtained from www.lrp.nih.gov and should be submitted to the NIH office, which is responsible for the receipt of applications, in such form and manner as the Secretary or the authorized designee may prescribe.

Award Procedures

All eligible and completed applications will be forwarded to the Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) for review. Awards will be made to those applications approved by the SEP, subject to the receipt of an appropriation and/or allocation of funds from the United States Congress, the NIH and/or NCMHD. All selections are subject to final approval by the Secretary or the authorized designee.

Deadlines

Contact the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities listed below for application deadlines or visit the website located at www.lrp.nih.gov .

Authorization

Public Health Service Act; Title IV, Subtitle D, Part G, Section 487E, as amended; Public Law 106-554; 42 U.S.C. 288-5.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

The approximate time for approval/disapproval is 6-8 months.

Appeals

Applicants may question the substantive or procedural aspects of the review of their application by communicating with NCMHD staff. A description of the NIH Peer Review Appeal procedures is available on the NIH home page http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not97-232.html .

Renewals

After the completion of the initial two-year contract, participants may apply for a one-year or two-year extension provided the participant continues to engage in qualified clinical research and has outstanding repayable debt remaining. Applications submitted for an extension are reviewed and selected for funding on a competitive basis.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

An initial contract provides assistance for a two-year period, and an extension contract provides assistance for a one-year or two-year period. Program payments will be made directly to lenders following each quarter of the participant's satisfactory service, unless otherwise agreed upon by the participant and Secretary or authorized designee.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Participants must be periodically certified to have satisfactorily performed the duties of their positions.

Audits

Not applicable. This program has no statutory audit requirements.

Records

The NCMHD will retain applicant records for three years after rejection and participant records for six years after completion of final service obligation.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-0897-0-1-552.

Obigations

FY 07 $1,562,000; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The total dollar assistance for FY 05 for the 2-year contract period ranged from $4,252.03 up to $106,057 in loan repayments, and from ~$3,000 up to ~$28,000 in tax reimbursements. The average dollar assistance of awards made in FY 02 was ~$45,000 in loan repayments and ~$18,000 in tax reimbursements.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Pertinent information is contained in Public Law 106-554; Section 487E of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 288-5).

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

Program and Business Contact: Dr. Francisco Sy, National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Loan Repayment Program, 6707 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 800, MSC 5465, Bethesda, MD 20892-5465. Telephone Number: (301) 402-1366. Fax: (301) 480-4049. Email: SyF@ncmhd.nih.gov.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The major elements in evaluating applications/proposals include the assessment of the following: (1) personal statement; (2) proposed research project and its scientific merit (priority will be given to biomedical and behavioral researchers); (3) training plan and environment (which includes the research program, the facilities/environment, the mentor/advisor's training, the applicant's training); (4) loan debt ratio and any associated impediments that may affect the applicant's decision to pursue a research career; and (5) references.