Beginning July 1, 2025, a new National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy will require immediate public access to scholarly articles and papers arising from NIH-funded research. This change will apply to all research supported fully or partially by the NIH.
The “2024 NIH Public Access Policy” mandates that any journal article resulting from NIH-funded research must be made publicly accessible upon publication. This represents a shift from the current model, in which most journals impose embargo periods before research can be shared freely.
Importantly, these embargo periods will not be waived by journals under the new policy. As a result, authors will need to pay Open Access fees if they wish to publish in journals that do not automatically make articles freely available upon publication. The responsibility to ensure compliance with the policy—and to cover any associated Open Access fees—falls on the authors, not on publishers or journals. Fortunately, NIH grant funds can be used to cover these expenses, and some institutions may offer support through Read and Publish agreements.
Who Is Affected?
Researchers whose articles stem from NIH-funded research, including:
What Is Covered?
Author Accepted Manuscripts (AAMs) that have been accepted for publication in a journal
When Does It Begin?
Applies to manuscripts accepted for publication on or after July 1, 2025
Why Is This Happening?
To ensure the public has immediate access to research funded by taxpayer dollars, the NIH is updating its Public Access Policy to promote transparency and equity in science.
How to Comply
Researchers are encouraged to begin planning for this shift now by reviewing publishing options, budgeting for Open Access fees, and consulting institutional resources. For more information, visit the NIH Public Access Policy page.