The new implementation timeline for the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy has been accelerated by the new NIH Director from December 31, 2025 to July 1, 2025. Compliance is essential to maintain access to NIH funding opportunities. Please see the Welch Library OA Guide for the most up to date information on funder compliance. 

 In August 2022, the Nelson OSTP Memo required all federal funding agencies to implement a public access policy and plan by 2025.

Other funders, both public and private, are now requiring their researchers to publicly share articles, data, code, protocols, and other information freely and openly.

Why are funders requiring this open sharing? There are several reasons:

• research supported by the government should be available to the taxpayers
• research should be available to everyone, to improve all lives
• research that studies human populations should be accessible to those populations
• increase the efficiency of the scientific endeavor
• support reproducibility
• promote the reputation of the funders

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) first passed its Public Access Policy on April 7, 2008, in order to advance science and improve human health. See the Welch NIH Public Access Policy LibGuide for the most up to date information.

What is the new implementation timeline for the 2024 Public Access Policy?

The 2024 Public Access Policy is effective for manuscripts accepted for publication on or after July 1, 2025. (Note, the original implementation date of December 31, 2025, was accelerated by the new NIH Director) Until June 30th, 2025,  NIH’s current (2008) Public Access Policy remains in effect.

Why is NIH changing its Public Access Policy?

On December 17, 2024, NIH released its updated 2024 Public Access Policy. This revised policy is in keeping with the White House OSTP memo “Ensuring Free, Immediate, and Equitable Access to Federally Funded Research”. The Policy was informed by public feedback, including comments received in Summer 2024 in response to the NIH Draft Public Access Policy.

What changes are being implemented?

For manuscripts that are accepted for publication in a journal on or after July 1, 2025:

• •The full text of manuscripts that result from NIH funding in whole or in part must be made available immediately upon the Official Date of Publication in PubMed Central. An embargo period of any length will no longer be allowed.
• Authors must include an acknowledgment of federal funding in the Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) and Final Published Article (see suggested language below).
  • “This manuscript is the result of funding in whole or in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is subject to the NIH Public Access Policy. Through acceptance of this federal funding, NIH has been given a right to make this manuscript publicly available in PubMed Central upon the Official Date of Publication, as defined by NIH.”
• Authors submitting manuscripts to PubMed Central (via NIHMS) will be required to agree to a standard license that mirrors that of the Government Use License, explicitly granting NIH the right to make the AAM publicly available through PubMed Central without embargo upon the Official Date of Publication 

If you'd like help complying with a funder mandate, the best place to start is with the granting agency or your research office.

Assistance can also be found by contacting:

• Johns Hopkins Libraries Data Management Services
• Nancy Shin, Scholarly Communications Librarian, Welch Medical Library
• Librarians at your home library: Welch Medical Library, Sheridan Libraries, Friedheim Library