NIH Genomic Data Sharing (GDS) Policy and NIH Applications

The NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy ensures the broad and responsible sharing of genomic research data and applies to all NIH-funded research that generates or uses large-scale human or non-human genomic data as well as these data for subsequent research. Large-scale data include genome-wide association studies (GWAS), single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) arrays, and genome sequence, transcriptomic, metagenomic, epigenomic, and gene expression data. 

Effective for new and renewal applications due or after January 25, 2023

In an effort to reduce the burden of duplicative reporting expectations, NIH is establishing a single Plan submission requirement for research subject to both the NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy (GDS Policy) and the NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing (DMS Policy)

Generation/Use of Large-Scale Genomic Data

  1. State in the application cover letter that the studies proposed will generate large-scale human and/or non-human genomic data.
  2. Include a genomic data sharing plan in the application. For renewal applications due on or after January 25, 2023 see NOT-OD-22-198 and the UCSF Library webpage for the 2023 NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy.
  3. If sharing of human data is not possible, provide an explanation why and an alternate data sharing plan.

Instructions in individual Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA) supersede this guidance.