NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing: Writing a DMS Plan

The DMS plan (maximum 2 pages) must include the following 6 elements:

1. Data Type: Describe the types of data to be generated and expected to be shared, including details about metadata and documentation that will help others understand and reuse the data.

Note: scientific data do not include laboratory notebooks, preliminary analyses, completed case report forms, drafts of scientific papers, plans for future research, peer reviews, communications with colleagues, or physical objects, such as laboratory specimens (NIH NOT-OD-21-013).

2. Related Tools, Software and/or Code: Indicate any tools, software, or code needed to access, manipulate, or analyze the data.

3. Standards: Specify the data and metadata standards to ensure data usability and reproducibility.

Some resources to find (meta)data standards:

• Research data alliance metadata standards catalog
• Fairsharing
• Bioportal Ontologies catalogs ontologies, with a biomedical focus
• DCC guide to disciplinary metadata standards
• NIH Common Data Elements (clinical data)

4. Data Preservation, Access, and Associated Timelines: Identify where the data will be stored and shared, and outline when the data will be shared and for how long it will remain available.

Note: Data should be shared as soon as possible, and no later than the time of an associated publication, or the end of the award/support period, whichever comes first (NOT-OD-21-013).

5. Access, Distribution, or Reuse Considerations: Describe any restrictions, ethical/privacy concerns, or limitations on data sharing.

Sensitive Data Restrictions: If ethical, legal, or technical reasons prevent sharing data, researchers must document these restrictions and provide justification for limited or no data sharing.

Special consideration for human genomic data subject to the NIH’s Genomic Data Sharing (GDS) Policy 

6. Oversight of Data Management and Sharing: Identify who will monitor compliance with the DMS Plan (e.g., the Principal Investigator or a dedicated data manager).

The DMPTool is a free, open-source, web-based platform that helps researchers create, share, and maintain Data Management Plans (DMPs) required by funding agencies like the NIH, NSF, and others. Developed by the California Digital Library and partners, it provides templates, guidance, and institutional resources to streamline the process of creating DMPs.

Key Features of the DMPTool:

1. Agency-Specific Templates:

   • Preloaded templates for funders like NIH, NSF, DOE, and more.
   • Templates are tailored to meet the specific requirements of each funding agency.

2. Guidance and Best Practices:

   • Built-in guidance for answering each section of the DMP based on funder and institutional requirements.
   • Links to additional resources and examples.

3. Collaboration and Sharing:

   • Allows researchers to collaborate with team members by sharing drafts of their DMP.
   • Plans can be exported in various formats (e.g., PDF, Word, or plain text).

4. Version Control:

   • Tracks revisions, enabling users to update and refine their DMPs throughout the research lifecycle.

How to Use the DMPTool:

1. Access the Tool:

• Visit dmptool.org.

• Log in using your ECU credentials.

2. Select a Template:

• Choose the relevant funding agency and program to access its specific DMP template.

3. Fill Out the Plan:

• Work through the template by answering questions in each section (e.g., data types, storage, sharing).

• Use the provided guidance and examples to ensure compliance with funder requirements.

4. Collaborate:

• Share your DMP with collaborators, mentors, or institutional staff for feedback.

5. Export and Submit:

• Once complete, export the DMP in the required format and include it in your funding application.

You can revisit and revise your DMP as needed.