Research Data and Geographic Information Librarian
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2023 Policy Changes
NIH grants submitted on or after January 25, 2023 must follow the updated Data Management & Sharing Policy.
Individual centers and institutes may have additional data sharing requirements.
The DMSP combines several prior data management forms including the Genomic Data Management Plan and the Resource Sharing Plan. A Model Organism Sharing Plan still needs to be submitted separately.
The major changes include:
- Requirement of a 2-page DMSP upon proposal submission
- Documented compliance with your DMSP
- Data must be made publicly available for 3-years starting at time of publication or conclusion of grant funding - which ever comes first.
Additionally, the changes call for PI's to maximize data sharing and include information on data sharing when collecting informed consent.
What does that mean for researchers?
Importantly, data management plans will NOT impact priority scoring during submission. If the DMS Plan cannot be approved at the time of submission, applicants will be notified that additional information is needed and allowed to revise and resubmit.
Additionally, your DMSP may be updated as your project evolves.
Last updated 04-APR-2023
- Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) NIH Resource PageProvides some additional resources specific to the NIH Data Policy changes including comment letters, FAQs, and a readiness guide.
- Revising Data Management and Sharing PlansYour DMSP may change over the course of your project, both before and after receiving an award.
- Assessment of DMSPs During Peer-ReviewYour DMSP will not be considered during the peer-review impact scoring unless your project is directly related to data sharing.
Additional Data Management Policies
Specific Institute, Center, or Research Program Data Policies
Depending on your research topic, funding opportunity, or connected institute or center, there may be additional data management policies and requirements that must be noted in your DMS Plan. Some policies may specify repository restrictions, procedures for anonymizing data, or data-sharing timelines.
- NIH Institute and Center Data Sharing PoliciesMany institutes, centers, and research programs have instituted specific data sharing policies in addition to the trans-NIH policies. Note that individual funding opportunities may specify other requirements or expectations, so be sure to read all instructions carefully.
- Check Which NIH Policies Apply to Your ResearchTake a short quiz on the NIH website to determine what data sharing and research policies apply to your project.
Genomic Data Sharing Policies
- NIH Genomic Data Sharing PolicyIf your research includes working with genomic data, especially human genomic data, your research also needs to comply with the Genomic Data Sharing Policy
- Where to Submit Genomic DataThere are additional requirements for data repositories that store both human and non-human genomic data that ensure security and privacy. The NIH lists recommended genomic repositories that meet their requirements.
- Data Submission and Release ExpectationsDepending on the type of data and level of processing there are expectations for data formats and release dates.
DMS Plan Components
Generally the requirements follow the same outline as many DMPs, asking for information on:
- Data type, including metadata, and what data will be shared after the project
- Related software, tools, and code needed for use and recreation
- Data standards to ensure consistency of the scientific data and metadata
- Data preservation, access, and associated timelines covering how you plan to make the data available to the public
- Access, distribution, and reuse considerations that may be affected by other policies, laws, regulations, and privacy concerns.
- Oversight of the data management plan compliance during the project.
For more information on each section, see their website Writing a Data Management & Sharing Plan. The NIH provides lots of additional guidance including templates and sample plans.
Informed Consent
Although not required by the NIH Open Data Policy, it is strongly encouraged for researchers to include information on your data management and sharing plans when collecting informed consent. Other policies such as the NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy may still apply as well as any other policies at your institution.
- FAQ Regarding Informed ConsentNIH FAQ for their Open Data Policy explains that informed consent is not required, but strongly encouraged.
- NIH Informed Consent for Secondary ResearchA document meant to provide considerations and guidance to NIH researchers about informed consent and data sharing.