In light of NIH’s upcoming Policy for Data Management and Sharing (DMS) and the existing Genomic Data Sharing (GDS) Policy, how many data sharing plans will your application need?
Just one. The August 31, 2022 Guide notice confirms that for Applications Due On or After January 25, 2023, you should create a single DMS plan that includes GDS. This unified approach is meant to reduce your administrative burden and help harmonize the two policies, as several of you suggested in Compiled Public Comments on Request for Information: Proposed Updates and Long-Term Considerations for the NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy.
When NIH updates the application packages to version Forms H, the PHS 398 Research Plan Form will include a new Other Plans field. Attach your DMS plan PDF file to the Other Plans field.
You may also need to prepare sharing plans in response to the Model Organism Sharing Policy or the Research Tools Policy. Combine these plans into a single PDF file and attach it to the Resource Sharing Plans field of the PHS 398 Research Plan Form.
To quickly sum up where the sharing plans belong:
- Attach your DMS plan to the Other Plans field.
- Attach additional sharing plans to the Resource Sharing Plans field.
Find further guidance on NIH Sharing Policies and new Supplemental Information on the DMS Policy. NIH also provides Frequently Asked Questions on Sharing and a tool to determine Which Policies Apply to My Research?.