The document outlines a session focused on the implementation and implications of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Final Policy for Data Management and Sharing, effective as of January 25, 2023. Featuring insights from NIH policymakers, academic researchers, and representatives from the COGR Data Management & Sharing Work Group, the discussion emphasizes the policy’s two core requirements: submission of a Data Management and Sharing Plan and subsequent compliance with the approved plan. Supplemental information further details the necessary plan elements, permissible costs, and criteria for selecting repositories. The policy represents a significant shift intended to foster a culture in which robust data management and open data sharing are integral to the research enterprise, enhancing scientific reproducibility, transparency, and public trust.
Key themes addressed include the roles and responsibilities of researchers and institutions in meeting these new mandates, practical and financial challenges, and the importance of trusted, sustainable data repositories. Researchers are generally receptive to data sharing but express concerns about data rights, resource allocation, metadata standards, and seeking authoritative guidance. Institutions similarly grapple with uneven research data services (RDS), accountability structures, and resource sustainability. The National Library of Medicine’s role in maintaining repositories and supporting compliance is also highlighted. Overall, the session underscores the collaborative and ongoing nature of this transition, urging both researchers and institutions to engage proactively with policy requirements while leveraging expert resources and evolving best practices.
