What is NHMRC's data sharing requirement?

NHMRC Statement on Data Sharing (2018, updated 2024); aligned with the Australian Code. Researchers should follow the data-management plan submitted with the application and deposit data in a recognised repository where appropriate.

NHMRC - funder mandate | CASRAI

Overview

Where NHMRC stands on contributorship and open research

NHMRC defers to the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and its authorship guidance. CRediT is referenced as one acceptable means of distinguishing contributions but is not mandated. Where journals require CRediT statements, NHMRC-funded authors are expected to comply.

CRediT status: Encouraged - Guidance or programme calls reference CRediT, but formal policy text is silent.

Open access

NHMRC Open Access Policy (2022 update)

NHMRC-funded peer-reviewed publications must be openly accessible, with the accepted manuscript deposited in an institutional repository or freely accessible at the journal within 12 months of publication. The 2022 update strengthened the deposit requirement and introduced clearer compliance reporting.

Research data management

Data sharing requirements

NHMRC Statement on Data Sharing (2018, updated 2024); aligned with the Australian Code.

Submission and reporting

How NHMRC researchers apply and report

Primary submission system	NHMRC Sapphire (grant management system) and the Researcher Profile
Biosketch / CV format	NHMRC Researcher Profile (maintained in Sapphire)
Reporting cycle	NHMRC Annual / Final Reports via Sapphire

NHMRC researchers apply through Sapphire and maintain a Researcher Profile that is used across NHMRC schemes. The Investigator Grant scheme is the council's flagship individual-PI programme. A Data Management Plan is expected for data-generating projects. Clinical trials must be registered prospectively on a WHO-recognised registry (ANZCTR is the default for Australia / New Zealand). Adherence to the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research - jointly issued with the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Universities Australia - is a grant condition.

Contributorship guidance

How NHMRC handles contributor attribution

NHMRC accepts CRediT as one valid way to distinguish contributions on publications but does not mandate it. The Australian Code authorship guidance emphasises substantial intellectual contribution, agreement on authorship before submission, and accountability for content.

For authors

Publishing from NHMRC funding

When publishing from NHMRC funding, deposit the accepted manuscript in an institutional repository or ensure free access at the journal within 12 months of publication. Acknowledge NHMRC using the standard funding-acknowledgement format that names the relevant scheme (e.g., "This work was supported by an NHMRC Investigator Grant ..."). For clinical trials, the ANZCTR (or other WHO-recognised registry) trial number must appear in the manuscript. Include a CRediT statement at the publisher's request - many of the journals NHMRC researchers publish in already require it. Update your Sapphire Researcher Profile with the publication.

For general CRediT submission guidance across publishers, see CRediT for authors.

Notable initiatives

NHMRC programmes and infrastructure

Investigator Grant scheme
Synergy Grants for team science
Centres of Research Excellence
Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) - administered separately but aligned

Notes

Caveats and context

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), a separate Australian government initiative, is administered alongside NHMRC processes and shares much of the same compliance infrastructure.

Frequently asked

Common questions about NHMRC

Does NHMRC require CRediT?: NHMRC does not require CRediT at the policy-text level, but guidance and programme materials reference it. NHMRC defers to the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and its authorship guidance. CRediT is referenced as one acceptable means of distinguishing contributions but is not mandated. Where journals require CRediT statements, NHMRC-funded authors are expected to comply.
What is NHMRC's open access policy?: NHMRC Open Access Policy (2022 update). NHMRC-funded peer-reviewed publications must be openly accessible, with the accepted manuscript deposited in an institutional repository or freely accessible at the journal within 12 months of publication. The 2022 update strengthened the deposit requirement and introduced clearer compliance reporting.
How do I report contributorship to NHMRC?: NHMRC accepts CRediT as one valid way to distinguish contributions on publications but does not mandate it. The Australian Code authorship guidance emphasises substantial intellectual contribution, agreement on authorship before submission, and accountability for content.
Where do I submit a NHMRC application?: NHMRC applications are submitted through NHMRC Sapphire (grant management system) and the Researcher Profile. NHMRC researchers apply through Sapphire and maintain a Researcher Profile that is used across NHMRC schemes. The Investigator Grant scheme is the council's flagship individual-PI programme. A Data Management Plan is expected for data-generating projects. Clinical trials must be registered prospectively on a WHO-recognised registry (ANZCTR is the default for Australia / New Zealand). Adherence to the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research - jointly issued with the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Universities Australia - is a grant condition.
What is NHMRC's data sharing requirement?: NHMRC Statement on Data Sharing (2018, updated 2024); aligned with the Australian Code. Researchers should follow the data-management plan submitted with the application and deposit data in a recognised repository where appropriate.

References

Sources

Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018)
NHMRC Open Access Policy (2022)
NHMRC Statement on Data Sharing