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Important update about NIHR OPEN ACCESS GUIDANCE

Following an extensive review, NIHR has published a new Open Access policy, which applies to peer-reviewed articles submitted from 1 June 2022.

Please note that for NIHR Infrastructure (including NIHR research units and schools) the policy applies to research studies where the majority of the research costs are funded by the NIHR.

The new policy

For peer-reviewed articles which are in-scope of the policy:

• All articles must be made freely available through PubMed Central (PMC) and Europe PMC by the official final publication date, under an open licence, without any embargo period. The step-by-step policy guidance on the NIHR websites gives more information on how to comply.
• NIHR will pay reasonable fees to enable immediate open access:
  • For NIHR new Infrastructure awards (including the 2022-2027 BRC award), Open Access costs will continue to be budgeted and earmarked by applicants at application stage. Costs for Open Access must now be entered and reported as a separate item on the finance form. The funding guidance on the NIHR website gives more information about what costs NIHR will fund.
  • For active contracts that are budgeted based on the previous Open Access policy scope, where relevant and appropriate, additional funding can be requested through the NIHR Open Access request form. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Peer-reviewed research articles which are otherwise out of scope (e.g. NIHR Infrastructure research studies with minority NIHR funding), but which acknowledge NIHR support/funding must be deposited and made freely accessible through Europe PMC, as soon as possible, but no later than 12 months post the official final publication date.

Please contact ccf-infrastructure-team@nihr.ac.uk if you have any further questions on this policy.

Follow this link to complete the NIHR Open Access request form