Changes to NIH Public Access Policy
The NIH Public Access policy was recently updated. Here’s what you need to know:
When:
The updated policy is effective for manuscripts accepted on/after July 1, 2025
What:
Requires peer-reviewed manuscripts from NIH-funded research to be submitted to PubMed Central (PMC) immediately upon publication. Embargo periods are no longer permitted.
Who:
Applies to research funded by NIH grants, cooperative agreements, and NIH employees.
Where:
There are multiple submission methods:
- Method A: The Publisher deposits the article to PMC.
- Method B: Author submits via the NIH Manuscript Submission system (NIHMS).
How:
To stay in compliance:
- Include PMCID when citing in NIH applications or reports.
- Use My Bibliography to track and manage citations.
- Noncompliance can delay grant awards or renewals.
Learn more about the policy changes on the NIH Grants & Funding website and the Lane Library Blog. Also, remember, the NIH has a data sharing policy.
More about Open Access Publishing
You can learn more about open access on our library website. Our Open Access Publishing Guide includes:
- Information about what open access is and options for making your work open, including self-archiving and preprints.
- Open access policy overviews for Stanford’s open access policy and the NIH open access policy
- Discounts on article processing charges for Stanford affiliates through Lane Library’s subscriptions and negotiations with publishers
If you have questions about open access publishing, contact your liaison librarian.
