Introduction
Many funders, both federal agencies and foundations, have policies and requirements for data management or data sharing plans submitted along with proposals. See the list below for these requirements. If you would like help to develop a plan for data management or sharing, contact Heather Coates.
Data Management Plan (DMP) Overview
A data management plan generally describes the data to be generated or used and how you will manage it throughout the project and afterwards to ensure it is available. DMP included in funding agency proposals are generally brief and include broad summaries, while functional DMP tend to be longer and include greater detail about personnel roles and responsibilities, data storage, quality assurance and control, archiving, and sharing. A good data sharing plan describes what data will be shared, how it will be accessed, the permissions and rights for users, and guidelines for attribution (e.g., data citation).
Federal Funding Agency Requirements
- National Science Foundation (http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp)
- All proposals must include a Data Management Plan (2-page maximum)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing/data_sharing_guidance.htm)
- Applies to proposals seeking $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year of the proposed project period through grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts.
- NIH Genomic Data Sharing (https://osp.od.nih.gov/scientific-sharing/genomic-data-sharing/)
- The Genomic Data Sharing (GDS) policy applies to all NIH-funded research (e.g., grants, contracts, and intramural research) that generates large-scale human or non-human genomic data, regardless of the funding level, as well as the use of these data for subsequent research.
- See a full list of requirements and templates (https://dmptool.org/public_templates) maintained by DMPTool. IU is an institutional affiliate.
Foundation & Other Funder Requirements
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (https://sloan.org/grants/apply#tab-grant-proposal-guidelines)
- Those requesting funding for research projects are expected to describe how data and code will be shared, annotated, cited, and archived.
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Open-Access-Policy)
- The foundation will require that data underlying the published research results be immediately accessible and open.
- Wellcome Trust (https://wellcome.ac.uk/funding/guidance/guidelines-good-research-practice)
- We expect all outputs of research funded by us to be shared openly and as quickly as possible. At the same time, we recognise that there may be an overriding need for confidentiality in some instances. For example, if researchers generate intellectual property during a grant, they must consider how to protect it before disclosure and in line with our policy. Read our policy on data, software and materials management and sharing (https://wellcome.ac.uk/funding/guidance/policy-data-software-materials-m...).
- Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation (https://www.moore.org/docs/default-source/Grantee-Resources/data-and-ip-policy-11-2014.pdf?sfvrsn=2)
- As part of the grant development process, the foundation may ask prospective grantees to develop a Data Sharing and/or Intellectual Property Plan. In this case, before funding is approved, the foundation and prospective grantee will agree on a plan that reflects the objectives of this policy.
DMP Templates & Examples
Contact Heather Coates for customized DMP or for advice dealing with complex data management issues.