Editorial Snapshot: NIH’s looming cap on journal fees sparks debate among researchers
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- Published: 2025/11/19
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is poised to impose caps on article processing charges (APCs) for scholarly publishing, a move that could reshape how researchers share their work. As reported by Chemical & Engineering News, the NIH’s request for information, concluded in September 2025, explored options like limiting APCs to $2,000, $3,000, or $6,000 per paper or tying publishing budgets to a grant percentage. This follows a 6.5% rise in APCs last year, with some journals charging fees that outstrip the budgets of smaller labs, raising concerns about profiteering by publishers. The decision comes amid broader NIH challenges, including reinstated grants facing potential cuts post-Supreme Court rulings.