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NIH Public Access Policy

Directions for investigators publishing NIH-funded research

Method D: Publisher/Author Submission to PMC using NIHMS

In Method D, you will complete the submission process for a final peer-reviewed manuscript that the publisher has deposited in the NIH Manuscript Submission System (NIHMS). Some publishers deposit the manuscript files in the NIHMS, provide contact information for a corresponding author, and designate the number of months after publication when the paper may be publicly available in PMC.  Authors must complete all tasks outlined in Method C, with the exception of depositing the actual file.  
 
Authors who exercise this option must retain the right to do so. When reviewing the copyright agreement form, confirm that the publisher will allow you to self-submit the final peer-reviewed manuscript upon acceptance of publication and that the final peer-reviewed manuscript will be publicly available no later than 12 months after the official date of publication.

Important!

Though a publisher may make the initial deposit, awardees are responsible for ensuring that manuscripts are submitted to the NIHMS upon acceptance for publication and that all NIHMS tasks are completed within three months of publication. The NIHMS will email the author and all PIs the citation with the PMCID once assigned; PMC will automatically make the paper publicly available after the delay period has expired.