Overview
Where NIHR stands on contributorship and open research
NIHR open-access policy and complementary publication guidance recommend a CRediT statement on funded outputs. Authorship guidance cites CRediT by name as the preferred vocabulary, and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) contributors are expected to be recognised in the contributorship statement where appropriate.
CRediT status: Recommended - Policy text recommends a CRediT statement on funded outputs.
Open access
NIHR Open Access Policy (2022, aligned with UKRI)
NIHR-funded peer-reviewed research articles must be immediately open access under a CC BY licence at the time of publication. Long-form outputs (monographs, edited collections) included from 2024.
Research data management
Data sharing requirements
NIHR Data Management and Sharing Policy; aligned with tri-funder UK guidance and the UK Concordat on Open Research Data.
Submission and reporting
How NIHR researchers apply and report
| Primary submission system | NIHR Funding Service (since 2023) replacing the Central Commissioning Facility application platform |
| Biosketch / CV format | NIHR-specific CV with PPI + impact emphasis |
| Reporting cycle | NIHR Open Data Platform + annual reports |
NIHR-funded clinical trials must be prospectively registered on a WHO-recognised registry (ISRCTN, ClinicalTrials.gov, EU Clinical Trials Register) before recruitment opens. Patient and Public Involvement must be documented at application and reporting stages, following the UK Standards for Public Involvement. All applications must include a Plain English Summary that meets the INVOLVE plain-language criteria. NIHR uses a researcher-CV format with explicit emphasis on PPI activity and impact narrative rather than the R4RI four-module structure.
Contributorship guidance
How NIHR handles contributor attribution
NIHR explicitly recommends CRediT statements on funded publications. PPI contributors should be acknowledged using the appropriate role - typically Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, or Writing-review and editing - rather than relegated to acknowledgements.
For authors
Publishing from NIHR funding
When publishing from an NIHR-funded study, include a CRediT statement that names PPI contributors with appropriate roles where their involvement met that threshold. Use the official NIHR funding-acknowledgement wording (specified in NIHR publication policy - the format varies by programme but always names "the National Institute for Health and Care Research" and the award reference). Deposit the accepted manuscript in Europe PMC at time of publication with a CC BY licence applied. Submit a Plain English Summary of the published findings to the NIHR Open Data Platform within the timeframe set by your grant agreement.
For general CRediT submission guidance across publishers, see CRediT for authors.
Notable initiatives
NIHR programmes and infrastructure
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs)
- Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs)
- INVOLVE Plain Language standards
- Be Part of Research recruitment platform
Notes
Caveats and context
NIHR is one of the most CRediT-forward national funders in published policy text, partly because biomedical journal practice has already converged on CRediT.
Frequently asked
Common questions about NIHR
- Does NIHR require CRediT?
- NIHR recommends CRediT in its formal policy text without making it a contractual requirement. NIHR open-access policy and complementary publication guidance recommend a CRediT statement on funded outputs. Authorship guidance cites CRediT by name as the preferred vocabulary, and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) contributors are expected to be recognised in the contributorship statement where appropriate.
- What is NIHR's open access policy?
- NIHR Open Access Policy (2022, aligned with UKRI). NIHR-funded peer-reviewed research articles must be immediately open access under a CC BY licence at the time of publication. Long-form outputs (monographs, edited collections) included from 2024.
- How do I report contributorship to NIHR?
- NIHR explicitly recommends CRediT statements on funded publications. PPI contributors should be acknowledged using the appropriate role - typically Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, or Writing-review and editing - rather than relegated to acknowledgements.
- Where do I submit a NIHR application?
- NIHR applications are submitted through NIHR Funding Service (since 2023) replacing the Central Commissioning Facility application platform. NIHR-funded clinical trials must be prospectively registered on a WHO-recognised registry (ISRCTN, ClinicalTrials.gov, EU Clinical Trials Register) before recruitment opens. Patient and Public Involvement must be documented at application and reporting stages, following the UK Standards for Public Involvement. All applications must include a Plain English Summary that meets the INVOLVE plain-language criteria. NIHR uses a researcher-CV format with explicit emphasis on PPI activity and impact narrative rather than the R4RI four-module structure.
- What is NIHR's data sharing requirement?
- NIHR Data Management and Sharing Policy; aligned with tri-funder UK guidance and the UK Concordat on Open Research Data. Researchers should follow the data-management plan submitted with the application and deposit data in a recognised repository where appropriate.
References
Sources
- NIHR Open Access Policy
- NIHR Publication Policy
- UK Standards for Public Involvement (INVOLVE)
