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NIH Data Management and Sharing

NIH has issued the Data Management and Sharing (DMS) policy (effective January 25, 2023) to promote the sharing of scientific data. Sharing scientific data accelerates biomedical research discovery, in part, by enabling validation of research results.

Planning for Data Management & Sharing

Plan how scientific data will be managed and ultimately shared is a crucial first step in optimizing the reach of data generated from NIH-funded research. Investigators and institutions are encouraged to consider these crucial elements early in research planning.

Determine if your proposed research is subject to the DMS policy.

Specifically, the DMS policy applies to:

  • Competing grant applications that are submitted to NIH for 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.

Identify appropriate methods/approaches and repositories for managing and sharing scientific data.

Develop a Plan for managing and sharing scientific data and submit this Plan within the funding application or proposal.
* Note that applications subject to both the DMS Policy and the GDS Policy will submit a single Plan.

Writing a Data Management and Sharing Plan

Under the 2023 Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy, NIH expects researchers to maximize the appropriate sharing of scientific data, taking into account factors such as legal, ethical, or technical issues that may limit the extent of data sharing and preservation.

NIH requires all applicants planning to generate scientific data to prepare a DMS Plan that describes how the scientific data will be managed and shared. 

DMS SampleDMS Plans are recommended to be two pages or less in length . A preview of this format page is available on the right. 

Elements to include in the DMS Plan:

  • Data Type
  • Related Tools, Software and/or Code
  • Standards
  • Data Preservation, Access, and Associated Timelines
  • Access, Distribution, or Reuse Considerations
  • Oversight of Data Management and Sharing

See Elements to Include in a Data Management and Sharing Plan for more information. 

Sample Data Management Plans

NIH has provided sample DMS Plans as examples of how a DMS Plan could be completed in different contexts, conforming to the elements described above. These sample DMS Plans are provided for educational purposes to assist applicants with developing Plans but are not intended to be used as templates and their use does not guarantee approval by NIH. Below are some examples, see more at Sample Plans.