Include PMCID in Citations

How to Cite

1. Include the PubMed Central reference number (PMCID) at the end of citations.

For papers published more than 3 months before an application, proposal and report is submitted:
List the PubMed Central reference number (PMCID) at the end of the full journal citation for the paper in NIH applications, proposals and reports.  A PMCID is the only way to demonstrate compliance for these papers.  

For papers in press, or published within 3 months of when an application, proposal or report is submitted:

• When using Submission Method A or B, indicate “PMC Journal - In Process” or the PMCID at the end of the full citation.
• When using Submission Method C or D, provide a valid NIH Manuscript Submission System reference number (NIHMSID) or PMCID at the end of the full citation. Note, NIH awardees are responsible for ensuring that all steps of the NIHMS submission process are complete within three months of publication.

2. Place the Literature Citations in the appropriate location.

The appropriate locations for literature citations vary depending on the application type.  See the Guide Notice NOT-OD-08-119 for details.

Additional Information

• The Difference Between a PMCID and a PMID
• Examples of Citations
• Locating the PMCID
• Determining if an NIHMSID is valid

The Difference Between a PMCID and a PMID

The PubMed Central reference number (PMCID) is different from the PubMed reference number (PMID). PubMed Central is an index of full-text papers, while PubMed is an index of abstracts. The PMCID links to full-text papers in PubMed Central, while the PMID links to abstracts in PubMed. PMIDs have nothing to do with the NIH Public Access Policy.

Examples of Citations

Sala-Torra O, Gundacker HM, Stirewalt DL, Ladne PA, Pogosova-Agadjanyan EL, Slovak ML, Willman CL, Heimfeld S, Boldt DH, Radich JP. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression and outcome in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood. 2007 April 1; 109(7): 3080–3083. PMCID: PMC1852221

Cerrato A, Parisi M, Santa Anna S, Missirlis F, Guru S, Agarwal S, Sturgill D, Talbot T, Spiegel A, Collins F, Chandrasekharappa S, Marx S, Oliver B. Genetic interactions between Drosophila melanogaster menin and Jun/Fos. Dev Biol. 2006 Oct 1; 298(1): 59-70. PMCID: PMC2291284

Examples, before the PMCID is available:

For Submission Methods A and B, use “PMC Journal - In Process”:
Sala-Torra O, Gundacker HM, Stirewalt DL, Ladne PA, Pogosova-Agadjanyan EL, Slovak ML, Willman CL, Heimfeld S, Boldt DH, Radich JP. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression and outcome in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood. 2007 April 1; 109(7): 3080–3083. PMCID: PMC Journal - In Process

For Submission Methods C and D, use the NIHMSID:
Cerrato A, Parisi M, Santa Anna S, Missirlis F, Guru S, Agarwal S, Sturgill D, Talbot T, Spiegel A, Collins F, Chandrasekharappa S, Marx S, Oliver B. Genetic interactions between Drosophila melanogaster menin and Jun/Fos. Dev Biol. 2006 Oct 1; 298(1): 59-70. NIHMSID: NIHMS44135

Note: NIH expects NIH applications, proposals and reports to provide the most up-to-date information available on Public Access Policy compliance.  The NIH Manuscript Submission reference number (NIHMSID) or "PMC Journal - In Process" should not be used once the PMCID is available.  Previously submitted applications, proposals and reports need not be updated when the PMCID becomes available.

Locating the PMCID

The PMCID is posted in PubMed as soon as an article has been successfully processed by PMC, which usually occurs around the time of publication.  PMCIDs are listed in the lower right corner of the AbstractPlus view of PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed).  If the paper is successfully processed but not yet publicly available on PMC, PubMed will also list the date the paper will become available.  NIH provides other methods of obtaining PMCIDs (e.g. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/so08/so08_skill_kit_pmcid.html), as do several bibliography management software packages.

Determining if an NIHMSID is valid

NIHMSIDs will become invalid three months after a paper is published. The validity of an NIHMSID will be evident in:

• The NIHMS, under Manuscript List, which is the first screen a user will see once logged on to the NIHMS.
• The PI’s  eRA Commons Profile, provided that the manuscript has been associated with an award number in the NIHMS.
• See Clarification on the Use of an NIHMSID to Indicate Compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy for details.