Researchers applying for National Institutes of Health grants can, beginning in late May, cite preprints in their proposals just as they would any other work, ScienceInsider reports.
"The NIH encourages investigators to use interim research products, such as preprints, to speed the dissemination and enhance the rigor of their work," the agency says in a notice.
The notice adds that preprints "can be cited anywhere other research products are cited." Previously, ScienceInsider says, preprints could be included in research plans, but not in biographical sketches or progress reports. It adds that this change in policy is a boon for preprint advocates, who see them as a way to share scientific findings quickly.
ScienceInsider also reports that the agency encourages investigators to place their preprints in repositories that meet certain standards. In particular, NIH urges researchers to rely on repositories that have policies regarding plagiarism, conflicts of interest, and research misconduct in place as well as, ones that are easy to search and have an archiving strategy.