Division of Research
Creating an NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan
NIH Policy Expectations
Effective January 25, 2023, the NIH issued a Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy to promote the sharing of scientific data. Sharing scientific data accelerates biomedical research discovery, in part, by enabling validation of research results, providing accessibility to high-value datasets and promoting data reuse for future research studies.
Under the DMS Policy, the NIH expects that investigators and institutions do the following:
- Plan and budget for the managing and sharing of data.
- Submit a data management and sharing plan for review when applying for funding.
- Comply with the approved data management and sharing plan.
The NIH DMS Policy sets forth a number of standards for good data management practices and data-sharing expectations applicable to research funded by NIH. The NIH also released six supplemental information documents and FAQs to accompany the DMS Policy.
Related Resources
- NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing
- Elements of an NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan
- Allowable Costs for Data Management and Sharing
- Selecting a Repository for Data Resulting from NIH-Supported Research
- Protecting Privacy When Sharing Human Research Participant Data
- Responsible Management and Sharing of American Indian/Alaska Native Participant Data
- Implementation Changes for Genomic Data Sharing Plans
- FAQs for the NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing
Creating an NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan
Researchers applying for NIH funding must create and submit to the NIH a data management and sharing plan outlining how scientific data and any accompanying metadata used in research will be managed and shared, considering any potential restrictions or limitations.
The plan should include a brief summary of the following:
- The type of data managed, preserved and shared
- Related tools, software and/or code used
- Standards applied to the data
- Methods of data preservation, access and associated timelines
- Approach for access, distribution and reuse considerations
- Oversight of data management and sharing
Researchers should consider how to maximize appropriate sharing of data while acknowledging existing legal, ethical or technical factors that may call for justified limitations or exceptions.
In particular, NIH highlights the importance of informed consent and emphasizes that researchers should clearly communicate with prospective subjects how their scientific data are expected to be used and shared.
Tools and Training for NIH Data Management
The NIH Scientific Data Sharing website is a one-stop shop for all the information you need to know about NIH data sharing policies, including its DMS policy.
Learn what NIH expects DMS plans to address. This website also includes information on the DMS plan format, an optional DMS plan template and sample plans.
Find out what data sharing costs may be requested in an application for funding and access links to other resources to help with budgeting.
View a recording of this beginner class on data management tools presented by the NIH.
This resource from the NIH offices of Science Policy and Extramural Research provides points to consider and sample language for informed consent documents of research studies.