NIH Public Access Policy and You: Home

 Critical updates to the NIH Public Access Policy took effect on July 1, 2025. 

The NIH announced that the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy will now apply to all articles accepted for publication on or after July 1, 2025. Due to the significant policy changes and the new, accelerated implementation timeline, it is important for all NIH-funded researchers to understand the requirements and adjust their research plans to comply with them in order to avoid jeopardizing their current and future funding opportunities.

Key Information:

• Immediate Submission to PubMed Central: Researchers must submit their Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) to PubMed Central without delay (as soon as it is accepted for publication). This ensures that research is accessible to the public as soon as possible.
• No Embargo Period: There will no longer be an embargo period for journals. Full-text must be made publicly available in PubMed Central upon publication.
• Open Access fees: Authors should investigate their preferred journals’ policies on Green Open Access and depositing to PMC. While the NIH does not require payment from authors, many journals will charge open access fees, so the only free path to compliance may be choosing a different journal. 
• Impact on Funding: Non-compliance with these new requirements could affect current and future funding opportunities, including grant renewals. It is crucial to adhere to these guidelines to maintain funding status.

For definitions of key terms in the policy, visit the Glossary page.

More Details:

For Help, Contact:

• For policy and compliance questions: Katherine Howell, Health Sciences Librarian, kehowell@unc.edu
• For contract-related questions: Collin Drummond, Open Knowledge and Research Impact Librarian, cdev@email.unc.edu
• Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center affiliates: Jamie Ede, LCCC Librarian, sede@email.unc.edu