Background
How to Comply
Manuscript Submission
Cite Papers
Finding PubMed Central ID Numbers
Policy Applications
Results of Non-Compliance
Further Information and Assistance (tutorials, FAQs, etc.)
To NIH-funded UC Researchers / Authors (PDF)
As of April 7, 2008, The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is requiring that an author’s final version of any peer-reviewed journal article resulting from NIH-funded activities be submitted to the PubMed Central repository, where it will be available to the public within 12 months after the journal article is published. Complete information about this new requirement is located at the NIH Public Access Site.
How to ComplyCopyright
Make sure that any copyright transfer or other publication agreements allow the final peer-reviewed manuscripts to be submitted to NIH in accordance with the Policy.
Manuscript Submission
Authors may submit a paper to the journal of their choice for publication.
When your manuscript is submitted to NIH, you will receive a NIHMS ID number, and once it is available in PubMed Central, it will be assigned a PMC ID number.
Effective May 25, 2008, you need to cite the PMC ID or NIHMS ID numbers for your articles that you cite in your progress reports, new applications, and renewals. These are only needed for articles accepted for publication on or after April 7, 2008, but you may include PMC ID numbers for articles already in PubMed Central as well.
PMC ID numbers can be found in PubMed and in PubMed Central. The PMC ID number begins with PMC and appears in the lower left of the PubMed citation in the Abstract display option.
NIHMS ID numbers can also be found in PubMed Central and in PubMed in the MID (Manuscript ID) field when viewing the citation in the MEDLINE display format.
The Health Sciences Library can help you find these numbers, if you need assistance.
If you publish through a journal in the list of Journals That Submit Articles To PubMed Central, you may indicate "PMC Journal - In Process" until the PMCID is available. There might be a slight delay in assignment of a PMCID even for those publishers working with NIH. By using this phrase, you are letting the NIH program officer know that your article will be in compliance with the new policy.
Finding PubMed Central (PMC) ID NumbersApplies to "All Investigators Funded by NIH"
Directly or indirectly resulting from NIH funded research or contract
Supported whole or in part with direct costsResearch grant and cooperative agreements
Contracts
Career development awards
All Kirschstein National Research Service awards
Intramural grants
If NIH pays your salaryOriginal primary research
Applies to "All Final Peer-Reviewed Articles"
Electronic version of manuscript
With all the edit made during peer review
But NOT the final published version with copy editing, stylistic changes and editing
Use of the final PUBLISHED version requires permission from the publisherDo not download the PDF from the journal site unless you have permission
Submit whether or not it is indexed in MEDLINE/PUBMED
Does NOT apply to:
Results of Non-ComplianceBooks
Book chapters
Editorials or correspondence
Non peer-reviewed articles
Articles in trade magazines
Abstracts or proceedings
Multimedia or other type of publications
What will happen if you do not comply?
“Compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy is not a factor in the scientific and technical merit evaluation of grant applications. Non-compliance will be addressed administratively, and may delay or prevent awarding of funds.”
From the NIH Public Access Policy FAQ: http://publicaccess.nih.gov/FAQ.htm#b9
Further Information and AssistanceSubmitting an Article to PubMed Central (Windows Media Player video)
Approving Submission of an Article to PubMed Central (Windows Media Player video)