NIH Seeks Input on Publication Costs

By: Yvette Seger
Wednesday, August 13, 2025

On July 30, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on strategies for Maximizing Research Funds by Limiting Allowable Publishing Costs. This RFI was a follow-up to a news release issued by the agency announcing its intention to cap charges associated with the publication of NIH-funded research.

The RFI proposes five options for limiting publication costs associated with NIH-funded projects:

• Option 1: Disallow all publication costs;

• Option 2: Establish a limit for allowable costs per publication ($2,000 is suggested in the RFI text);

• Option 3: Establish a limit on allowable costs per publication and allow a higher amount to be paid when peer reviewers receive compensation;

• Option 4: Establish a limit on the total amount of an award that can be spent on publication costs; or,

• Option 5: Establish a limit on both per publication costs and the total amount of an award that can be spent on publications.

The research community is asked to provide feedback on the option that would best achieve NIH’s goal of maximizing the use of taxpayer funds while providing flexibility in publishing research results. Additionally, respondents are encouraged to share information that could inform NIH’s selection of one of the five options presented, as well as alternatives, including perspectives on compensation of peer reviewers or other publishing best practices that should be factored in when determining publication limits.

Comments must be submitted electronically via web form and will be accepted through September 15, 2025.