The Material Transfer Agreement: It s a Give and Take Understanding MTAs at Northwestern University

Transcription

1 The Material Transfer Agreement: It s a Give and Take Understanding MTAs at Northwestern University Anne K. Grace, Ph.D. Senior Contract and Grant Officer Office for Sponsored Research, Chicago Campus

2 What s an MTA? A written contract used to govern the transfer of research material between organizations Established between the Provider institution and the Recipient institution to: Document the transfer of material Define rights and responsibilities surrounding its use

3 What s an MTA? (cont.) Material can mean Biological materials (cell lines, tissues, transgenic animals, plasmids, vectors, etc.) Pharmaceutical drugs or compounds Chemicals Software Other proprietary physical material

4 What do they say? Permitted uses of material Specific project, non-commercial purposes Further distribution PI s lab only, no sharing with other PIs or institutions Ownership Provider owns material, Recipient is just borrowing it Publication of data and results Recipient can freely publish Possible inventions Compliance with applicable laws Liability Provider isn t responsible for Recipient s use of material Term Expiration of MTA Should material be returned or destroyed?

5 Types of MTAs MTAs with Non-profit organizations Universities, government agencies, other non-profit research institutes MTAs with For-profit organizations Pharmaceutical companies, Biotech companies

6 MTAs with non-profit vs. for-profit organizations Non-profit For-profit Similar research environments and funding sources = similar priorities Share knowledge Shorter agreements Pre-negotiated MTAs: UBMTA, Simple Letter Agreement Faster turnaround (usually) Different research environments = different priorities Restrictions on publication and inventions More extensive agreements Slower turnaround (usually) Some exceptions

7 Uniform Biological Material Transfer Agreement (UBMTA) Published by the NIH in 1995 for use by nonprofits and public institutions Master MTA template with set terms and conditions UBMTA Implementing Letter Approx. 500 signatories ** All UBMTA material transfers are subject to the master agreement

8 How do I process an MTA at Northwestern? One MTA office for all MTAs, inbound and outbound transfers Northwestern University research MTAs need to be reviewed and approved by OSR Chicago before anyone signs Principal Investigators cannot sign MTAs on behalf of NU (PIs often sign as Read and Understood ) Authorized Institutional Official will sign to bind the University to the terms

9 Material transfer: Inbound to NU MTA received from Provider NU investigator completes Inbound MTA Request Form (on OSR website) MTA and Inbound Form sent to Final draft approved Changes are negotiated with Provider if necessary MTA is reviewed for compliance with NU policies and business practices NU investigator and Authorized Official sign Provider institution signs, sends a copy to all Investigators arrange shipment of material

10 Material transfer: Outbound from NU NU investigator completes Outbound MTA Request Form (on OSR website) Sends Outbound Form to OSR drafts MTA and sends to Recipient Recipient PI and Authorized Official sign Final draft approved Recipient MTA office reviews MTA and changes are negotiated if necessary NU PI and Authorized Official sign, sends a copy to all Investigators arrange shipment of material

11 What Forms?

12 How can we speed this up? Inbound material transfers Submit Inbound MTA Request Form along with Provider s MTA Submit Word version of MTA if possible Have research description ready Contact info and addresses MTA instructions from Provider Outbound material transfers Submit completed Outbound MTA Request Form Provide detailed material description Contact info and addresses

13 Institutional MTAs American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) DUASU Plasmid Repository Jackson Laboratories General Terms and Conditions of Use AddGene MTAs approved and signed electronically Others **Terms and conditions still apply

14 Other considerations Do I need IRB approval? Is the material being transferred considered Human Subjects Research? Is tissue de-identified or has proper consent been obtained? IRB approval may be needed for transfer and subsequent use Do I need approval from IACUC? Office for Research Safety? Is this material related to an invention disclosure or patent? Talk to INVO

15 Remember: Different types of MTAs for different types of transfers Please submit requests for For-profit MTAs as early as possible Please read through terms and conditions Contact me any time with questions

16 Thank you! Ph