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NIH Public Access Policy

Welcome

Welcome to the NIH Public Access Policy Guide!  This guide is intended for researchers who have received funding from the NIH, as well as those interested in learning more about the policy.

Please note: This guide is intended for educational purposes only and does not act as substitute for official guidance from the NIH.  It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure they understand the NIH Public Access Policy, the associated publication requirements, and their responsibilities as an investigator and/or author.

NEW - 2024 NIH Public Access Policy Released

A new 2024 NIH Public Access Policy has been released and will go into effect on July 1, 2025. 

The main change in this new policy is the removal of the 12-month embargo that was previously allowed.  As such, all manuscripts must be made available in PubMed Central immediately upon publication in a journal.


Policy Background

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued new guidance on August 25, 2022 to make federally funded research freely available without a delay.  The new NIH Public Access Policy was developed in response to this memo.

 

Current as of 05/07/2025

Learning Outcomes

Users of this guide will learn:

  • The basics of the NIH Public Access Policy
  • The different submission methods they may follow
  • How to manage their papers using the My Bibliography tool
  • Tips and resources for learning more about the policy

NIH Data Management & Sharing Policy

If you are looking for information on the 2023 NIH Data Management & Sharing Policy, please check out our guide: