New NIH Public Access Policy Now in Effect

The 2024 NIH Public Access Policy now requires that all peer-reviewed publications resulting from NIH funding—and accepted for publication on or after that date—be made immediately available in PubMed Central (PMC) on the official date of publication. PubMed Central is the National Library of Medicine’s free full-text digital archive. This change replaces the 2008 Public Access Policy, which allowed a 12-month embargo before articles became publicly accessible in PMC. That embargo option has now been removed, ensuring that NIH-funded research is available to the public without delay. The policy went into effect on July 1, 2025.

What Researchers Need to Know

It’s important for NIH-funded researchers to understand and comply with the new policy to avoid jeopardizing current or future funding. Key points include:

  • Immediate Deposit: Submit your Author Accepted Manuscript to PubMed Central via the NIH Manuscript Submission (NIHMS) system as soon as it’s accepted for publication.
  • Use the Correct Version: Submit the Author Accepted Manuscript, not the journal’s final published PDF, to avoid copyright issues.
  • Open Access ≠ Compliance: Publishing in an open access journal or posting to a preprint server like bioRxiv does not fulfill the NIH Public Access Policy. The manuscript needs to be available in PMC.
  • No Cost to Submit: There is no fee to deposit your manuscript in PMC, regardless of whether you have published open access or not. NIH specifically addresses this in their Grants & Funding--Public Access Policy-- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Helpful Definitions

  • Author Accepted Manuscript: The final version of your accepted manuscript, including all revisions made during peer review. It should include all associated materials such as tables, graphics and supplemental materials.
  • Official Date of Publication: For publications accepted on or after July 1, 2025, NIH defines this as the date the final, published article is first made available—either in print or online (See NOT-OD-25-047)

Tips for Staying Compliant

  • Submit Early: Deposit your Author Accepted Manuscript in NIHMS immediately after acceptance.
  • Acknowledge NIH Support: Include the required funding statement in your manuscript.
  • Coordinate with Co-authors: Ensure that everyone on the research team is aware of the new requirements and that someone is responsible for completing the submission process.
  • Watch for Compliance Emails: Authors and PIs will receive reminders from Duke NIH Public Access Compliance (nihpublicaccesscompliance@dm.duke.edu) if a NIH-funded article is out of compliance. These messages will include action items, resources, and support to help you get back on track.

Need Help?

The Medical Center Library is here to support you throughout the compliance process. Visit our NIH Public Access Guide to learn more about the NIH PAP Compliance Submission process or email us at nihpublicaccesscompliance@dm.duke.edu with your specific questions.

Want to talk with a librarian about preparing for the NIH PAP Policy changes or about submitting an article to NIHMs? The Medical Center Library is offering Office Hours every Friday at 12 noon. Our Scholarly Communications Office Hours are informal, online sessions where you can meet one-on-one with a librarian to get support tailored to your needs. These aren’t formal classes—they’re drop-in style sessions designed for personalized assistance. Just come with your questions! 📝 Registration required

More Information

📢 New NIH Public Access Policy Now in Effect