New NIH policy begins in January

On January 25, 2023, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) will implement a new data management and sharing (DMS) policy. This policy will require NIH grantees to submit a DMS plan as part of grant applications.

The NIH first announced the proposed plan in October 2020. Since then, NIH has continued to hold meetings and collect feedback from the scientific community. Unfortunately, concern that has built up within the rank-and-file members of the community indicates that NIH outreach efforts have not been as successful as they could have been.

After a period of confusion and uncertainty within the NIH community, the NIH is now working to make more information available to grantees. In early December, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) published a blog post with NIGMS-specific information. As outlined in the NIGMS Feedback Loop blog post, NIH has prepared a website with information to help the community adjust to the new policy. The NIGMS Feedback Loop blog post also includes information directed at the NIGMS community, including a series of FAQs and, most importantly, a sample Data Management Sharing plan.  

NIH grantees are strongly encouraged to reach out to their program officers to ask questions or resolve any concerns they may have about the upcoming policy.

About the Author:


Kevin M. Wilson serves as Director of Public Policy and Media Relations for The American Society for Cell Biology. He's worked as the Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Robert Weygand (D-RI) and as a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI). He has a BA in Politics and American Government from the Catholic University of America. Email: kwilson@ascb.org