On December 17, 2024, NIH released its updated 2024 Public Access Policy. This policy is effective for manuscripts accepted for publication on or after July 1, 2025. Until then, the 2023 policy remains in effect (until June 30, 2025).
Increasing access to publications resulting from National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding offers many benefits to the scientific community and the public who funded the underlying research. When patients, families, and healthcare providers can access published findings resulting from NIH funding, they are able to better understand and address the most critical health concerns facing their communities. It also allows researchers, students, and members of the public in all communities to have equitable access to such content. This access can accelerate future research, lead to collaboration, and allow interested readers and patients to follow the latest advances more closely. Importantly, these goals also reflect NIH’s commitment to the responsible stewardship of the Nation’s investment in biomedical research by improving transparency and accessibility of taxpayer-funded research, an essential component of fostering trust in research.
To achieve these goals, the NIH Public Access Policy requires Author Accepted Manuscripts accepted for publication in a journal, on or after December 31, 2025, to be submitted to PubMed Central upon acceptance for publication, for public availability without embargo upon the Official Date of Publication.
Author Accepted Manuscript: The author’s final version that has been accepted for journal publication and includes all revisions resulting from the peer review process, including all associated tables, graphics, and supplemental material.
Final Published Article: The journal's authoritative copy, including journal or publisher copyediting and stylistic edits, and formatting changes, even prior to the compilation of a volume or issue or the assignment of associated metadata.
Journal: A periodical publication that is either 1) included in the “journal” section of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) Catalog or 2) meets all of the following criteria:
Official Date of Publication: The date on which the Final Published Article is first made available in final, edited form, whether in print or electronic (i.e., online) format.
The NIH Public Access Policy applies to any Author Accepted Manuscript accepted for publication in a journal, on or after December 31, 2025, that is the result of funding by NIH in whole or in part through:
The NIH Public Access Policy applies regardless of whether the NIH-funded principal investigator or project director is an author and regardless of whether non-NIH funds contributed to developing or writing the Author Accepted Manuscript. Upon the Effective Date, this Policy replaces the 2008 NIH Public Access Policy.
The NIH Public Access Policy requires:
Reasonable costs associated with publication that are allowable costs of the project budget may be requested as direct or indirect costs, as specified in the GPS 7.9 and as incorporated into the terms of Other Transaction agreements and applicable contracts (see the Guidance on Publication Costs for more information). Submission of Author Accepted Manuscripts to PubMed Central remains free for authors under the NIH Public Access Policy. If, during the course of the publication process, an author is asked to pay a fee for submission of the Author Accepted Manuscript to PubMed Central, such costs are not allowable.
Regarding submission to PubMed Central, compliance with the Policy may be achieved through either:
Overview of the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy
Notice of Updated Effective Date for the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy
NIH Director’s Statement on Accelerating Access to Research Results
Under the Poliscope blog: Transforming Transparency Through Policy
Supplemental Guidance: Publications Costs
Supplemental Guidance: Government License Use and Rights
NIH Director’s Statement on Release of 2024 NIH Public Access Policy
Under the Poliscope Blog: Introducing the New NIH Public Access Policy
Have suggestions for additional topics or improvements to this guide?
Let us know!