NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy

Overview of the 2023 NIH Data Management & Sharing (DMS) Policy

NIH’s new data management and sharing policy aims to promote the sharing of scientific data. Sharing scientific data accelerates biomedical research discovery by enabling the validation of research results, providing accessibility to high-value datasets, and promoting data reuse for future research studies. Upon policy implementation, NIH expects the following from investigators and institutions: 

• To plan and budget for the management and sharing of data
• To submit a DMS plan (via the new ‘Other Plans’ field on PHS 398 Research Plan and Career Development Award forms) for review when applying for funding
• To comply with the approved DMS plan

Find more resources below that explore the plan and its impact on NIH-funded research. Additionally, learn how the new NIH policy will complement existing VUMC data policies and procedures.

The Who, What, Where and When of the NIH DMS Policy 

via https://sharing.nih.gov/about/learning

WHEN does the DMS Policy go into effect?

The effective date of the DMS Policy is January 25, 2023, specifically:

• Competing grant applications that are submitted to NIH for the January 25, 2023 and subsequent receipt dates
• Proposals for contracts that are submitted to NIH on or after January 25, 2023
• NIH Intramural Research Projects conducted on or after January 25, 2023
• Other funding agreements (e.g., Other Transactions) that are executed on or after January 25, 2023, unless otherwise stipulated by NIH.

WHAT does the policy require? 

• Investigators must develop a Plan for managing and sharing scientific data as part of a funding application or proposal, addressing the 6 recommended elements.
  • For applications also subject to the Genomic Data Sharing (GDS) Policy, DMS Plans should address genomic data sharing considerations.
• NIH program staff will review the plan for completeness and acceptability and must be approved prior to award
• Recipients must follow through with the approved Plan and report on progress

WHO needs to comply? 

• Anyone receiving NIH funds to generate scientific data
  • Scientific Data is defined as “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.”
  • Be sure to check out the complete list of NIH activity codes subject to the DMS Policy as well as the specific Funding Opportunity Announcement to determine if the DMS Policy applies to an application.

WHERE can data be shared?

• NIH strongly encourages investigators to use an established repository to maximize the sharing of scientific data. Note that some funding opportunities or programs may require the use of a specific repository.
• Need help identifying an appropriate repository for your data?
  • Review Selecting a Data Repository for key considerations to keep in mind when selecting a repository
  • Browse through our list of NIH-supported Scientific Data Repositories

NIH Resources

• Final NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing
• NIH webinars providing a comprehensive overview of the new policy
• Writing a Data Management & Sharing Plan
• Developing Genomic Data Sharing Plans
• List of open domain-specific data sharing repositories
• Generalist Repository Ecosystem Initiative (non-domain-specific repositories)

Vanderbilt Resources

• VICTR StarBRITE site containing guidance on the NIH policy and tips for preparing and budgeting for the data management plan. Recordings of the CRC workshop and town hall meeting are also available.
• Create your DMP to align with institutional data management policies and procedures:
  • VUMC policy on sharing retention and ownership of research data 
  • VUMC Records Retention Policy Center Solution (PCS) defines retention schedules for research records and more
• VUMC Cores should establish a data management SOP and make it available to investigators.
  • Guidelines and best practices for managing core data

  • Having a data management SOP promotes rigor, reproducibility, and transparency

• Vanderbilt Basic Sciences DMS policy guidance and webinar recording

• SPI-Hub™ can be utilized to search for NIH-sponsored data repositories; each repository record in SPI-Hub™ is currently based on 38 descriptive data fields, which include accessibility, discipline, and data type, making it easier for researchers to select the data repository that best meets their needs. 

   

   

Additional Resources & Recommended Reading 

• Practical tips and guidance: "Ten simple rules for maximizing the recommendations of the NIH data management and sharing plan" in PLoS Comput Biol. 2022.
• FASEB DataWorks! Salons recordings explain the new policy, share best practices, explain how data sharing advances knowledge equity, and more. The Salons enable researchers to gather to educate each other, illuminate best practices, and innovate new solutions in a casual atmosphere.
• DMPTool for building and viewing examples of data management plans
• Resources from the national Working Group on NIH DMSP Guidance, including a researcher checklist for preparing a DMS plan
• White House Office of Science and Technology Policy guide to "Desirable Characteristics of Data Repositories for Federally Funded Research | White House Office of Science and Technology Policy"