NIH Policy Update: Accelerating Access to Medical Research

Open access to scientific research is vital for advancing medical innovation and ensuring equitable access to knowledge. At Stanford Medical School, where groundbreaking research is at the forefront of improving global health, this issue holds special significance. Lane Medical Library enthusiastically welcomes the NIH’s updated Public Access Policy, which removes the 12-month embargo on NIH-funded research. This transformative policy not only accelerates the dissemination of life-saving medical discoveries but also enhances the ability of researchers, clinicians, and the general public to access critical information. The Lane Medical Library is committed to supporting Stanford researchers in navigating this new policy and maximizing its impact on the medical community and the populations we serve.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a significant update to its Public Access Policy, eliminating the 12-month embargo period that previously delayed public access to NIH-funded research publications. Effective for manuscripts accepted on or after December 31, 2025, this change ensures that peer-reviewed manuscripts resulting from NIH funding will be freely accessible in PubMed Central immediately upon publication. This policy shift aligns with the August 2022 memorandum from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), which called for federal agencies to make federally funded research publications and supporting data publicly accessible without embargo.

In addition to removing the embargo period, the NIH has released supplemental guidance on government use licenses and publication costs to assist researchers and institutions in complying with the new policy. The NIH is also seeking public comments on its plan to enhance the discoverability and usability of research results through improved metadata and persistent identifiers. These efforts reflect the NIH’s commitment to advancing equitable access to scientific knowledge, fostering transparency, and accelerating the dissemination of research findings to benefit public health. Learn more about these updates on the NIH Office of Science Policy page.

Related Announcements:

•  Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy: Government Use License and Right. See Notice NOT-OD-25-049.
•  Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy: Publication Costs. See Notice NOT-OD-25-048.
•  Notice of the Reopening of the Public Comment Period for NOT-OD-24-144. See Notice NOT-OD-24-166.
•  Notice of Availability: National Institutes of Health Draft Public Access Policy. See Notice NOT-OD-24-144.
•  Request for Information on the NIH Plan to Enhance Public Access to the Results of NIH-Supported Research. See Notice NOT-OD-23-091.

Lane Medical Library remains dedicated to empowering Stanford researchers and the wider medical community with the tools and resources needed to comply with and benefit from this groundbreaking policy. Together, we can advance the frontiers of medical knowledge and its application to real-world health challenges. If you have any questions about how this policy affects you and your research, please reach out to us.