NIH Public Access Policy

About the NIHMS Process

In the cases of Methods C and D, the Policy requires that manuscripts be submitted to PubMed Central via the NIH Manuscript Submission System (NIHMS).The submission process includes the steps outlined below. Processing times vary depending on the Reviewer's responsiveness to the process and the volume of submissions during a given period. However, if all steps are followed in a timely fashion, the process usually takes 2-3 weeks. 

1. Manuscript upload

2. Initial approval by the Reviewer

3. File conversion by NIHMS

4. Final approval by the Reviewer

5. PMCID assigned & publication to PMC

Before You Begin

Make sure you have the following materials and information on hand before you begin the submission process.

• The Author Accepted Manuscript. This is the author’s final version that has been accepted for journal publication and includes all revisions resulting from the peer review process, including all associated tables, graphics, and supplemental material. The Final Published Article (i.e., the journal's authoritative copy) cannot be submitted, unless the author has the right to submit this version. In most cases, authors relinquish this right. Please check your Author Agreement with the journal.  

• The manuscript's DOI or PubMed ID (PMID)

• Grant number(s) associated with the manuscript

• eRA Commons or Login.gov credentials

Manuscript Submission

Step-by-step instructions are provided in the video linked on this page.

1. Visit https://www.nihms.nih.gov/login/

2. Select the eRA Commons option (You can select the Login.gov option once you arrive at the eRA Commons webpage)

3. Click the Submit New Manuscript button 

4. Complete each section (title & journal, awards, and files) > Click the Next button to proceed

5. Designate a Reviewer. The Reviewer must be an author of the paper or a PI on the grant associated with the paper.

   • If you select "Self", click the Next button 

   • If you are submitting on an author's behalf, click the Send to Reviewer button

Manuscript Approvals

The designated Reviewer must provide initial and final approvals to complete the submission process. The Reviewer will receive email notifications from the NIHMS system with links and instructions for approval. The Reviewer may also receive notifications requesting corrections to the submission record. 

Initial Approval 

Step-by-step instructions are provided in the handouts linked on this page.

1. The designated Reviewer receives an email notification a few days after the initial submission
2. Click on the Access link provided in the email > You will be directed to the NIHMS system for login
3. Select the eRA Commons login option
4. After login, the system should take you directly to the manuscript awaiting review
   • If the system does not take you directly to the manuscript, you can enter a ticket number in its respective field
5. Review each section > Click the Confirm button to proceed
6. Read and review the submission statement > Click the Agree button 

Final Approval 

1. The designated Reviewer receives an email notification 2-3 weeks after the initial approval
2. Click on the Access link provided in the email > You will be directed to the NIHMS system for login
3. Select the eRA Commons login option (You can select the Login.gov option once you arrive at the eRA Commons webpage)
4. After login, the system should take you directly to the manuscript awaiting review
   • If the system does not take you directly to the manuscript, you can enter a ticket number in its respective field
5. Review the PMC Web and PMC PDF documents to confirm that they are complete and contain no errors
   • If you find an error, use the red location markers or +Add error button to report it
   • If you previously requested corrections, you can review the corrections using the "View requested corrections"
6. If no errors are found, Click the Approve button