Skip to Main Content
Becker Medical Library logotype
Library Quicklinks and Information

NIH Public Access Policy: White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) Memo

OSTP Memo: Ensuring Free, Immediate, and Equitable Access to Federally Funded Research

In August 2022, the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) issued a memo: Ensuring Free, Immediate, and Equitable Access to Federally Funded Research (OSTP 2022 Nelson Memo), that directs federal agencies to update their public access policies per OSTP 2013 Holdren Memo.

The policies pertain to publications, scientific data underlying scholarly publications, and scientific and research integrity which includes identifiers for researchers. The good news is that the proposed policies for publications and scientific data mirror existing NIH policies.

Becker Medical Library is here to help you comply with the new policies for publications, scientific data and identifiers for researchers.

Publications

  • All peer-reviewed scholarly publications resulting from federally funded research should be made freely available and publicly accessible upon publication in agency-designated repositories.
  • Zero embargo.
  • Federal agencies will be required to publish their policies no later than December 31, 2024.
  • Federal agencies will be required to implement updated policies no later than December 31, 2025.

For more information on publications, see the NIH Public Access Policy guide or contact Cathy Sarli or Amy Suiter.

New as of December 20, 2024:

The updated NIH Public Access Policy (2024 Public Access Policy) for publications was issued on December 17, 2024. The 2024 Public Access Policy includes two supplemental notices: Publication Costs and Government Use License Use and Rights.

The workflow and methods for compliance with the current NIH Public Access policy will remain the same for the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy. The two major updates to the 2024 Policy are:

  • Removal of the 12-month embargo period to allow for users to read the full text in PMC upon publication.
  • PMCID required by the Official Date of Publication.

Digital Persistent Identifier (DPI)

  • Federally funded researchers will need to obtain a Digital Persistent Identifier (DPI) that meets the common/core standards of a digital persistent identifier service defined in the NSPM-33 Implementation Guidance, and include it in published research outputs.
  • Federal agencies will be required to publish their policies no later than December 31, 2026.
  • Federal agencies will be required to implement updated policies no later than December 31, 2027.

NIH

The ORCID iD is currently required for select applicants for NIH awards.

As of May 25, 2025, NIH will require all Senior/Key Personnel to:

  • enter their ORCID iD into SciENcv in the Persistent Identifier (PID) section of the Common Forms. 
  • link their ORCID ID to their eRA Commons Personal Profile.

For more information, see the ORCID guide or contact Brittney Sandler.

Recommendations for School of Medicine Researchers

  • Retain copies of final, peer-reviewed manuscripts, and tables, figures and supplemental materials associated with the work.
  • Develop Data Management Plans (DMPs) for your research.
  • Confirm that publisher policies allow you to comply with publication and data policies.
  • Communicate with co-authors about publication decisions early.
  • Include federal funding acknowledgements in manuscripts.
  • Researchers who receive federal funding (or current applicants) should have an ORCID iD, with current affiliation information and at least one publication noted on their ORCID profile.

Data

  • All peer-reviewed scientific data resulting from federally funded research should be made freely available and publicly accessible upon publication in agency-designated repositories.
  • Zero embargo.
  • Federal agencies will be required to publish their policies no later than December 31, 2024.
  • Federal agencies will be required to implement updated policies no later than December 31, 2025.

For more information on data, see Data Management and Sharing or contact Seonyoung Kim or Xing Jian.

Key Dates

Key Dates:

  • August 2022: OSTP Nelson Memo
  • December 31, 2024: Deadline for final public access policies to be published
  • May 25, 2025: Effective date for ORCID requirement for NIH applicants
  • October 1, 2025: Effective date for NIH public access policy for publications
  • December 31, 2025: Effective date for federal agency policies for publications