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NIH 2023 Data Management and Sharing Policy: Overview

Introduction

The NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy (DMS Policy) applies to any research funded in whole or in part by NIH that generates scientific data. Researchers must include a Data Management and Sharing (DMS) plan along with any grant applications, proposals for contracts, or other funding agreements submitted to the NIH on or after January 25, 2023. The DMS Policy continues NIH efforts to improve access to the results of publicly-funded research. The NIH believes that the sharing of scientific data under this policy will accelerate biomedical research discovery, enable validation of research results, provide access to high-value data sets, and promote data reuse in future studies. 

Policy Requirements

What are the requirements under this policy?

1. Submission of a Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMP or DMSP) outlining how scientific data and any accompanying metadata will be managed and shared, taking into account any potential restrictions or limitations.

2. Compliance with the awardee's plan as approved by the NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices (ICO).

Scope

What NIH-funded activities are subject to the DMS Policy?

The DMS Policy applies to all NIH-funded research* that generates scientific data.*

The DMS Policy does not apply to

  • research projects that do NOT generate scientific data 
  • non-research projects, including Trainings (Ts), Fellowships (Fs), Conference Grants (R13).

*See Applicable Activity Codes for a comprehensive listing of all NIH activity codes that generally require applicants to submit a Data Management and Sharing Plan.

What does "scientific data" include? 

NIH defines scientific data as "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."
 

What's NOT included?

The following  are not considered to be scientific data and should not be included in a DMS Plan:

•    laboratory notebooks

•    plans for future research 

•    preliminary analyses

•    peer reviews 

•    completed case report forms

•    communications with colleagues 

•    drafts of scientific papers

•    physical objects, such as laboratory specimens

When, and for how long, should scientific data be shared?

  • When: Data should be made accessible as soon as possible and no later than publication — or end-of-award, if there is no associated publication.
  • How long: To determine the minimum time frame for data sharing, consider the requirements and expectations that apply to your research, such as data repository policies, award record retention policies, journal policies, and any other relevant constraints. 
     

Must ALL data be shared?

  • Researchers should maximize data sharing, taking into account any potential limiting factors (i.e., legal, ethical, or technical).
  • All data should be managed, but not all must be shared.
  • Plans should outline protection of privacy, rights, and confidentiality for research that will generate scientific data from human participants.
  • Plans should comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, statues, guidance and institutional policies. 
  • The NIH ICO will assess whether plans appropriately consider and describe factors affecting data sharing.

General Resources

Data Services Librarian

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Amy Yarnell
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Contact:
ayarnell@hshsl.umaryland.edu