NIH Data Management and Sharing
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the Final NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing, NOT-OD-21-013, NOT-OD-21-014.
The effective date of the DMS Policy is January 25, 2023.
The new Policy for Data Management and Sharing places a strong emphasis on the sharing of scientific data to expedite the translation of research results into knowledge, products, and procedures to improve human health. Under the new policy, scientific data should be made accessible as soon as possible, and no later than the time of an associated publication, or the end of the performance period, whichever comes first.
The new guidelines apply to all awards that generate scientific data regardless of funding mechanism. This includes:
- Grants
- Contracts
- Subgrants/Subcontracts
- Other transaction authority agreements (OTAs)
Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy FAQs
NIH Institutes and Centers guidelines and FAQs:
NIGMS recently issued a feedback loop blog post,
NCI developed guidance for their grantees,
NIA released data sharing resources for their researchers and NIA data sharing guidelines,
NIAID issued guidance for contracts under the DMS Policy,
NICHD’s Office of Data Science and Sharing compiled a list of DMS Policy resources for their staff and researchers,
NIDCR answered DMS Policy FAQs, and
NINDS provided an interpretation of the NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy and NINDS researcher guidance.
A comprehensive list of data sharing policies from NIH Institutes and Centers can be found here.
Tools for Creating a DMS Plan
Creating Data Management Plans with DMPTool
The DMPTool is a free tool that walks users through creating comprehensive data management plans. This webinar will guide attendees through data management plan basics, creating a DMPTool profile, and exploring available templates and planning resources.
CCOM Scientific Editing and Research Communication DMS Resources
Educational Opportunities
Sign up for NIH Data Management and Sharing Plans Workshops
Data Sharing Presentations from 2023 NIH Grants Conference Available
NIH Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy Readiness Webinar, January 17, 2023
Recording ((COGR Member Portal Log in Required))
University of Iowa NIH DMS Webinar, August 30, 2022, 1:15 – 2:00 p.m.
| NIH Scientific Data Sharing website: https://sharing.nih.gov/ (includes FAQs) Find resources and training opportunities for NIH sharing policies. NIH will continue to post additional resources, so check back frequently. |
From the link above you can access “Learning” options including resources and training opportunities for NIH sharing policies.
Webinar recordings and slide decks
National Library of Medicine NIH Data Management and Sharing Requirements Webinar Series – The recorded webinar series introduces the basics of data management and the new requirements for data management and sharing that will be in place beginning in 2023. The introduction is followed by three webinars providing “practitioner perspectives” – i.e., data librarians sharing their opportunities, barriers, methods, and successes as they work toward improving data management practices at their institutions, and a recap/Q&A session. Select “Previous Classes” from the link at the beginning of this paragraph in order to access the recorded webinars and slides.
Intellectual Property Considerations
Could sharing data under the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy impact your ability to patent inventions?
The UI Research Foundation is available to help researchers navigate the process.
NIH recognizes the importance of federally-funded university research in the commercial development of inventions that benefit the public, and the agency has recently released an FAQ answer that addresses concerns university inventors might have about the impact that data sharing might have on their ability to obtain patent protection for inventions.
NIH suggests that researchers with inventions submit an update to their data sharing plans if they need time to evaluate and potentially protect their inventions through a patent application filing. The agency also indicates that delays of up to 60 days for such an evaluation and filing period would generally be viewed as reasonable, but that researchers should ultimately share data no later than the associated publication.
This 60-day timeframe does provide the UI Research Foundation (UIRF), the office that protects and licenses university inventions, with adequate time to work with you on evaluation and potential patent filing for your invention. In fact, whether federally-funded or not, UIRF would seek to complete such a review and filing before your publication, as publications can limit our ability to obtain broad patent protection. When you submit an invention disclosure to UIRF, let us know if and when you will be sharing your data or publishing a manuscript, so we can be sure to work within this timeframe.
If you are not sure whether sharing your data would make your invention obvious to others, impacting your ability to get a patent or perhaps inspiring others to independently come up with the invention, contact UIRF and we can go through the data with you.
University of Iowa Partners in Data Management and Sharing
| For questions regarding… | Contact: |
| Division of Sponsored Programs at nih@uiowa.edu |
| UI Libraries Research Data Services at lib-data@uiowa.edu |
| Human Subjects Office at irb@uiowa.edu |
| ITS Research Services at research-computing@uiowa.edu |
| Information Security and Policy at it-security@uiowa.edu |
| University of Iowa Research Foundation at uirf@uiowa.edu |
These UI offices have extensive experience in assisting researchers with grant proposals and research compliance, facilitating data management and sharing, and tracking the impacts of research.
Related Research Administration Dispatches (RAD) and NIH Notices:
Preparing for the 2023 Data Management and Sharing Policy
12 Days of Data Management and Sharing Tips & Resources
Free Crash Course in NIH Funding: 2023 NIH Grants Conference on Feb. 1-2
FORMS-H: Instructions, Forms, and a Handy Checklist
NIMH Expectations for Data Management and Sharing Plans
NIMH Sample Data Management and Sharing Plans
NIH Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy Implementation
Implementation Details for the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy