Research Groups Oppose Capping NIH Funding of Publisher Fees

"The agency released the feedback this month, showing that multiple major research advocacy groups and other organizations say its ideas are misguided. "Our organizations strongly urge NIH to explore other mechanisms for addressing concerns around publication costs-approaches that recognize that neither institutions nor individual investigators have control over publication costs," read a joint comment from the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, the Association of American Universities (AAU) and COGR. The groups said "these costs are controlled entirely by publishers.""

"The quartet of groups called the agency's proposed caps on article processing charges (APCs) "arbitrary" and asked the NIH-if it does move ahead with policy changes-to allow waivers and give universities at least a year for implementation to adjust budgets and negotiate with publishers. The changes-which were previously planned to take effect early next year, though NIH hasn't released a specific timeline-could pressure the $19 billion for-profit scholarly publishing industry to lower fees."

NIH requested public comments on proposals to reduce how much grant money researchers can use to pay journals for publication. Major research advocacy groups and other organizations submitted strong opposition in feedback released this month. A joint comment from leading university associations and COGR said institutions and investigators lack control over publication costs and urged NIH to pursue other mechanisms. The groups called proposed APC caps arbitrary and requested waivers and at least a year for implementation to adjust budgets and negotiate with publishers. More than 900 stakeholders weighed in, and the changes could pressure the $19 billion for-profit scholarly publishing industry.

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