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The sharing of research materials between scientists at universities, companies and federal agencies is a frequent occurrence which facilitates the advancement of scientific research. However, before such materials can be transferred, the providing entity often requests that a formal document be signed by authorized representatives of both the provider and the recipients entities.
This formal document is called a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) and is a contract that includes terms and conditions which govern the use of the research materials by the recipient investigator in his/her own research. Material transfer terms are also included in Collaboration Agreements if research materials are required to be transferred from the provider investigator to the recipient investigator for use in the project.
The terms of the MTA define the rights and obligations of the provider and the recipient with respect to the materials and any derivatives of the materials made by the recipient.
Biological materials (e.g. reagents, cell lines, plasmids, and vectors) are the most frequently transferred materials, but material transfers may also be used for other research tools such as chemical compounds, software, databases, gene chips, and small devices.
The following categories of MTAs are most common at academic institutions:
Transfers from one academic or research institution to another;
Transfers from academia to industry; and
Transfers from industry to academia.
The terms and conditions required for the transfer of research materials in each of the above categories may differ significantly. Whether the provider and the recipient are able to negotiate and agree on acceptable terms depends on the objectives and expectations of the parties involved.
For further general information on MTAs in a question and answer format, please refer to the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) brochure.
For detailed information on how to receive and transfer materials at UCSD, pleaser refer to the Materials Transfer Website.