HHP faculty receive three NIH Loan Repayment Program awards this cycle

Published Aug 09, 2024 by
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The National Institutes of Health Division of Loan Repayment is well aware of East Carolina University’s College of Health and Human Performance research prowess.

A latest NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRPs) renewal award combined with two new LRPs gives HHP three awardees in this cycle. Last year, there were just 64 LRPs awarded in the state of North Carolina.

Dr. Leslie Cofie with the Department of Health Education and Promotion gives a rapid presentation during the forum Jan. 19, 2024.

Dr. Leslie Cofie with the Department of Health Education and Promotion gives a rapid presentation during a research and networking forum hosted by HHP. Jan. 19, 2024. (Photo by Steven Mantilla)

Dr. Leslie Cofie (health education and promotion) earned an NIH Loan Repayment Program Renewal award from the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Lindsey Oakes (recreation sciences) was awarded an NIH Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Program award from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. Dr. Lori Ann Eldridge (health education and promotion) earned an NIH Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Program award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Dr. Joseph Lee, associate dean for research in HHP, noted that, “NIH loan repayment awards are highly competitive and are awarded to faculty with world-class research skills and potential. We are proud NIH is recognizing amazing researchers in HHP who are helping to deliver on our mission of making eastern N.C. healthier.”

Also directly related, the College of Health and Human Performance is teaming with the ECU Office for Faculty Excellence for a Sept. 5 training from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Belk Annex. The OFE session is: “NIH Loan Repayment Program Information Session.”

NIH states online that its Loan Repayment Program supports scientific discovery specifically by the competitive set of programs established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. This repays  up to $50,000 annually of a researcher’s qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research.