NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan: Home

The 2023 Data Management and Sharing Policy is designed to build upon existing policies to promote and share scientific data generated by NIH-funded research with a wide audience. The policy, which will  take effect January 25, 2023, applies to funding proposals and renewals that generate scientific data. It requires that:

• Researchers submit a Data Management and Sharing Plan with their funding proposals to explain how their data output will be managed, preserved and shared.
• Shared scientific data be made accessible as soon as possible, and no later than the time of an associated publication, or the end of the award/support period, whichever comes first. 
• The DMSP reflects plans for data management /sharing and is updated during the award period to incorporate any major changes in how data is handled or shared, such as a change in repositories, data collection or timelines. The DSM plan should be monitored for compliance..  Noncompliance could jeopardize future funding. 

The DMSP is a supplemental document that should not exceed two pages. Include an overview of the following six sections.

1. Data Type
   Describe the data to be managed, shared or preserved.
2. Related Tools, Software and or Code
   Indicate any specialized tools required to access or manipulate the data.
3. Standards
   What standards will be applied to the data and metadata including data formats, unique identifiers and other data documentation. Indicate if there are no shared disciplinary standards for your data or metadata.
4. Data Preservation, Access and Associated Timelines
   Indicate the repository where you will store and share your data. How long will you store your data and who will have access?  How will the data be preserved?   How will the data be discoverable? Established repositories are strongly encouraged.
5. Access, Distribution, or Reuse Considerations
   Explain any access, distribution or reuse limits applied to your data.
6. Oversight of Data Management and Sharing
   Who will monitor your DMSP?  How will you ensure you are meeting its guidelines? 

For more detailed information see Supplemental Information to the NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing: Elements of an NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan

How does the NIH define Scientific data?

Scientific data are "the recorded factual material commonly accepted in the scientific community as of sufficient quality to validate and replicate research findings, regardless of whether the data are used to support scholarly publications.

Items that are not considered scientific data include (but are not limited to) "laboratory notebooks, preliminary analyses, completed case report forms, drafts of scientific papers, plans for future research, peer reviews, communications with colleagues, or physical objects, such as laboratory specimens."

Am I required to share my data?

The policy encourages efforts to maximize appropriate sharing, but recognizes exceptions (i.e., legal, ethical, or technical reasons). These reasons must be communicated in the NIH DMSP.  In addition, sharing plans must be communicated in informed consent communication

Can I include data sharing costs in my funding application?

Certain costs related to data sharing and management that occur during the performance period may be included in your funding budget.  For examples of allowable and unallowable costs, see the NIH Budgeting for Data Sharing webpage.

2003 NIH Data Sharing Policy 
The current NIH data sharing policy requires investigators include a data sharing plan for research proposals seeking $500,000 or more in direct costs. This policy will be superseded by the 2023 policy on January 25, 2023.

2008 Public Access Policy
 A final copy of peer-reviewed manuscripts resulting from direct NIH funding must be submitted to PubMed Central within 12 months of publication. The 2008 policy has had several amendments and updates.

2013 OSTP Memo: “Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research.”
Federal agencies with over $100 million in R&D expenditures must develop a plan to support increased public access to results of funded research inclusive of peer-reviewed manuscripts and articles and research data.

2015 NIH Genomic Data Sharing (GDS)

This policy applies to NIH-funded research  that generate large-scale human or non-human genomic data, regardless of the funding level, as well as the use of these data for subsequent research..  Data must be placed in the database for Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP) or  with Trusted Partner repositories.