December 5, 2022

Data Management and Sharing Plan Expectations for NIGMS Grantees

As you may be aware, NIH will implement a new policy to promote the sharing of scientific data. This policy, which will require NIH grantees to submit a data management and sharing (DMS) plan as part of a grant application, goes into effect January 25. NIGMS believes that, in general, most of our grantees already meet the new NIH policy requirements, which we explain more fully in a list of FAQs.

Sharing scientific data accelerates biomedical research discovery, in part, by enabling validation of research results, providing accessibility to high-value datasets, and promoting data reuse for future research studies. Submitting a DMS plan as part of a grant application will formalize what NIGMS principal investigators already do and make explicit their plans for sharing data with the larger scientific community. Most DMS plans are expected to be concise (no more than two pages), and a sample plan is available, with a final fillable version available soon.

NIH has developed a website with details about the policy, guidance, and implementation. If you have questions about this new requirement after reviewing our FAQs, please contact NIH DMS policy staff or your NIGMS program officer.


About the Authors

Headshot of Nathan Moore.

Nathan Moore

Nathan, who was trained in high energy physics, is a data scientist in the NIGMS Division of Data Integration, Modeling, and Analytics. He uses numerous mathematical and computer science techniques to study the Institute’s research portfolios, training programs, and funding policies.
Darren Sledjeski

Darren Sledjeski

Before leaving NIGMS in March 2023, Darren was deputy director of the Division of Extramural Activities. He assisted the director in overseeing the grant-related activities of the Institute, including grants policies and procedures; the development of funding opportunities; and the receipt, referral, review, and fiscal management of grants. Additionally, he advised senior staff on the planning, development, and administration of Institute grant activities.