Guidance: Publishing and communicating your NIHR-funded research

Key points

• The NIHR requires notification and a copy of your accepted paper at least 28 days before publication. Please endeavour to send this on the day your paper is accepted.
• The NIHR requires notification of any media activity (e.g. press release of research) and a copy of the press release at least 3 days before release.
• The NIHR requires notification of all research publications by NIHR-funded/supported researchers, even if the individual project is not funded by the NIHR (e.g., NIHR Senior Investigator reporting on independently-funded research).

An acknowledgment of NIHR funding along with a brief disclaimer should be included in all publications that communicate independent research, such as:

-          reports and summaries of research findings,

-          information leaflets for patients and the public,

-          project recruitment materials,

-          research posters,

-          presentations slides,

-          videos,

-          websites and promotional materials of NIHR-funded research.

Disclaimers are not required on press releases. See Section 3 for examples.

Full details of the NIHR identity guidelines, including logos and how to apply them, can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11CFoG1uz7qUi67sQp7PZgnvedj8-_HDC 

Publishing research findings

 Acknowledging funding and affiliations in scientific journals

When submitting a paper, article or report for publication, it is essential that the NIHR is named and acknowledged appropriately. Missing or incomplete acknowledgements mean the work will not be cited as NIHR in clinical guidelines.

When submitting a paper for publication, please ensure that:

• The NIHR is named and its contribution is acknowledged in full.
• A disclaimer is included.
• A copy of the paper/article is sent to the relevant coordinating centre 28 days before it is due to be published.
• A copy of the final manuscript of any research paper supported in whole or in part by the NIHR is deposited with Europe PMC upon acceptance for publication, to be made freely available as soon as possible and in any event within six months of the journal publisher’s official date of final publication.
• A copy of the final manuscript of any research paper should be submitted into the University of Oxford Research Archive via Symplectic https://oxris.ox.ac.uk
• The principal award holder submits an end-of-project report within 14 days of the study, in accordance with the research contract.

While the Department of Health and Social Care funds the NIHR, it should not be named as a research funder. The NIHR must always be accredited as the funder.

When publishing papers, articles and reports, authors must acknowledge all types of NIHR funding, support and affiliations such as:

• Research programme funding
• Whole or part funding by research centres or units
• Use of clinical research facilities, centre or units
• Fellowship awards
• Senior Investigator awards
• Research Professorship awards

 Acknowledgements and disclaimers

If your research is funded by the NIHR:

“This research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research [award type]. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.”

If you are funded or supported by the NIHR:

“[Name] is funded by/supported by/receives funding from the National Institute for Health Research [award type]. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.”

For example, multiple award types can be combined into one statement:

“This research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research. Professor Jane Smith is also supported by the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care Oxford at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and the School for Primary Care Research. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

If you are funded or supported by NIHR CLAHRC/ARC, MIC, SPCR or BRC:

“This research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research [insert coordinating centre]. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.”

“[Name] is funded by/supported by/receives funding from the National Institute for Health Research [award type]. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.”

Coordinating centres (to be written in full, including host trust):

• Collaboration for Leadership for Applied Health Research and Care Oxford at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
• Community Healthcare MedTech and In Vitro Diagnostics Cooperative at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
• School for Primary Care Research.
• Oxford Biomedical Research Centre at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
• Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Press releases

If there is a newsworthy angle to your research or you would like to promote it further, please contact your departmental Communications Manager who will ensure the appropriate NIHR centre is notified. 

If you are aware a press release is being issued about your research and the department is not involved, please ensure you contact your relevant NIHR coordinating centre at least 3 days before your research is press released.

There is no need to include a disclaimer on press releases. Where research is funded by the NIHR, it should be mentioned in full within the body of the press release. The following should be included in the Notes to Editors section:

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)

The mission of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:

• Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care;
• Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;
• Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research;
• Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;
• Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system;
• Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries.

NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK Aid from the UK government.

Videos and films

Videos and films produced by independent NIHR funded teams should carry an acknowledgement, a disclaimer and an NIHR stamp.

Open access

Research articles, non-commissioned reviews and final reports/executive summaries to be made available through Europe PMC within 6 months of publication, via Green or Gold OA.

Researchers should seek to fund open access fees through their NIHR research grants. Further information: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/our-purpose/principles/nihr-open-access-policy.htm

Who to contact

On acceptance of any paper acknowledging the NIHR or a press release, a copy should be emailed to your relevant NIHR contact.

If you are planning a press release, please ensure you contact the department’s communications team in the first instance: communications@phc.ox.ac.uk

All NIHR Managing Centres have different ways of managing your grant. Specific instructions of what to do when you have a paper accepted for publication can be found in your award letter.

Further information

Publication policies specific to individual NIHR Coordinating Centres, along with their relevant brand guidelines can be found online:

• NIHR CLAHRC Oxford: https://www.clahrc-oxford.nihr.ac.uk/for-researchers/clahrc-publications-and-oa-policy
• NIHR SPCR: https://www.spcr.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/SPCR-outputs
• NIHR brand guidelines: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/resources/branding.htm 
• NIHR Publication Policy: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/our-purpose/principles/publications-policy.htm
• Other NIHR grants are managed through several individual Managing Centres. Details can be found online: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/how-we-are-managed/managing-centres/