Open Access Publishing

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) first passed its Public Access Policy on April 7, 2008, in order to advance science and improve human health.

Why is NIH changing its Public Access Policy?

On December 17, 2024, NIH released its updated 2024 Public Access Policy. This revised policy is in keeping with the White House OSTP memo “Ensuring Free, Immediate, and Equitable Access to Federally Funded Research”. The Policy was informed by public feedback, including comments received in Summer 2024 in response to the NIH Draft Public Access Policy.

What is the new implementation timeline for the 2024 Public Access Policy?

The 2024 Public Access Policy is effective for manuscripts accepted for publication on or after July 1, 2025. (Note, the original implementation date of December 31, 2025, was accelerated by the new NIH Director) Until June 30th, 2025,  NIH’s current (2008) Public Access Policy remains in effect.

What changes are being implemented?

    The Author Accepted Manuscript that result from NIH funding in whole or in part must be made available immediately upon the Official Date of Publication in PubMed Central. An embargo period of any length will no longer be allowed.

• Authors must include an acknowledgment of federal funding in the Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) and Final Published Article (see suggested language below).
  
  “This manuscript is the result of funding in whole or in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is subject to the NIH Public Access Policy. Through acceptance of this federal funding, NIH has been given a right to make this manuscript publicly available in PubMed Central upon the Official Date of Publication, as defined by NIH.”
   
• Authors submitting manuscripts to PubMed Central (via NIHMS) will be required to agree to a standard license that mirrors that of the Government Use License, explicitly granting NIH the right to make the AAM publicly available through PubMed Central without embargo upon the Official Date of Publication