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Statement  Tuesday, July 8, 2025

NIH to Establish New Policies for Allowable Publication Costs

NIH to Establish New Policies for Allowable Publication Costs

Scientific breakthroughs in human health are rarely the result of a single discovery. Instead, they emerge from a continuum of research, built upon layers of scientific findings and rigorous analysis. Broad access to the fruits of these research investments—whether in the form of data, results, or products—is the engine that drives innovation.

At NIH, we have long upheld a strong commitment to open access, as demonstrated by:

• The NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT), which provide public access to comprehensive data on NIH-funded research activities, including expenditures and outcomes;
• The NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy, which mandates that researchers plan to maximize appropriate sharing of scientific data, regardless of whether the findings are published;
• The NIH Public Access Policy, which ensures that peer-reviewed publications resulting from NIH funding are made freely available without embargo; and
• The NIH Intramural Access Policy, which facilitates broader use of NIH-developed technologies by licensing patents in ways that enhance public health and patient access.

Despite these efforts, I am gravely concerned about the overall financial burden placed on the public—who may fund the original research, then pay again to access the resulting data, publications, or commercial products. In effect, taxpayers may bear multiple costs for innovations their contributions helped enable.

Under my direction to address these concerns, NIH is actively reviewing the cost structures associated with research accessibility, particularly allowable publication expenses included in grant budgets. While open access aims to shift costs away from readers, the growing prevalence of unreasonably high article processing charges (APCs) has placed undue financial pressure on researchers and funders.

Under my leadership, NIH will implement a cap on allowable publication costs starting in FY 2026 to establish clearer, more reasonable boundaries. This step is intended to ensure that access to publicly funded research remains equitable and that taxpayers are not disproportionately charged for the dissemination of research they already supported.

We remain firmly committed to fostering transparency, accessibility, and responsible stewardship of public funds in pursuit of its mission to improve human health.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya
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About the 2023 ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

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