Library News

NIH Seeking Public Input on Proposal to Maximize Research Funds by Limiting Allowable Publication Costs

On July 8, 2025, NIH announced an intent to establish new policies limiting allowable publication costs.

NIH has proposed the following policy options to contain journal publication costs (including APCs and other publication fees, paid by NIH. The goal of the policy is to set a reasonable threshold for what NIH spends on publication expenses from direct costs of awards.

The proposed options (described in detail here) are:

1. Disallow all publication costs
2. Set a limit on allowable costs per publication
3. Set a limit on allowable costs per publication and allow a higher amount to be paid when peer reviewers are compensated
4. Set a limit on the total amount of an award that can be spent on publication costs
5. Set a limit on both the per publication cost and the total amount of an award that can be spent on publications

NIH wants to hear from researchers, universities and research institutions, librarians, scientific societies, publishers, and other members of the public. Comments will be accepted here through September 15, 2025.