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MTAs are required for the transfer of materials and data between 果冻影院 and another party, such as a university or private company. This page sets out the policy, procedure, and guidance for MTAs at 果冻影院.
What is a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)?
MTAs are legal contracts that set out the terms and conditions of the transfer and use of materials and/or data between the owner or provider and a recipient. Material transfer agreements (MTAs) protect 果冻影院 and the 果冻影院 researcher by recording the transfer of materials and/or data.
MTAs also set out any relevant legislative and regulatory requirements which the recipient and provider must comply with. 听
Importance of an MTA
Commercial organisations, non-profit organisations and other academic institutions will only release materials if there is an MTA in place between the provider and the recipient.
Benefits of an MTA
An MTA offers important benefits to the provider and recipient. It can:
- give them control over the distribution and use of the material
- help them gain access to the results of the research, both for information purposes and for commercial exploitation.
What do we mean by materials?
The MTA policy covers agreements relating to the transfer of materials, data or both.
Material Transfer Agreements
MTAs are used for materials, including but not limited to:
- Cultures
- Cell lines
- Plasmids
- Nucleotides
- Proteins
- Bacteria
- Transgenic animals
- Pharmaceuticals
- Other chemicals
- Alloys
- Other materials with scientific or commercial value
An MTA can also cover data, where data is being received alongside the materials. This can include anonymised, pseudo anonymised or personal data.
Data Transfer Agreements (DTA)
A Data Transfer Agreement (DTA) is a type of MTA.听A DTA is used where only data/data sets are being transferred. A DTA will be used for the transfer of anonymised data, pseudonymised or personal data.
When do you need an MTA?听
An MTA is required by 果冻影院 for all incoming and outgoing material transfers except when purchased on the open market.听
Incoming transfers听听
Where 果冻影院 is requesting a provider to supply it with materials, either with or without听paying听a fee.听
Purchasing materials on the听open market听
All material transfers are subject to 果冻影院鈥檚 MTA Policy. However, a separate contract is not required for purchases on the open market. These purchases will come with their own terms and conditions. It is important that these terms and conditions are carefully reviewed, as they will commit 果冻影院 to certain legal obligations.
Please make sure you refer to the usual 果冻影院 Procurement policies and procedures听(login required).听
Outgoing transfers听听
An MTA is required by 果冻影院 for any outgoing transfer of:听听
- 果冻影院-developed materials听including those听listed听above听
- 果冻影院-developed materials that contain or incorporate components received from a third-party听
- Materials developed for or on behalf of 果冻影院听听
- Human blood, tissue, and/or plasma harvested at 果冻影院 or by 果冻影院 researchers at third-party facilities听
Who can sign an MTA?听
MTAs听can only be signed by听an authorised听果冻影院听signatory听in line with 果冻影院鈥檚 Delegated Authorities.
The听Research and Innovation Services (RIS) team听makes听sure听the terms and conditions of the听MTA听are suitable for the transfer of the materials.听听
Any听unauthorised employee who executes an MTA may face disciplinary听action.听
How long听does听果冻影院 take to complete an MTA?听
Most MTAs can be completed within听90听days.听However, the length of time听depends听on the responsiveness and negotiating stance of the recipient organisation.
Additional negotiation听听
If your MTA has any of the following considerations, this may require negotiation and increase the amount of time it takes to sign the agreement.听
- Commercial licenses听which will need 果冻影院 Business'听input into the terms听
- MTAs for "state-of-the-art" materials听听
- For-profit entities听听
- Where 果冻影院 is charging a fee or paying a fee for the materials听听
- Publication rights听听
- Intellectual property (IP) rights听听
- 滨苍惫别苍迟辞谤蝉丑颈辫听
- Governing law听
- 奥补谤谤补苍迟颈别蝉听听
- 滨苍诲别尘苍颈迟颈别蝉听听
- IP clauses which include ownership of non-severable modifications and improvements to the materials听
- Revenue sharing of non-severable modifications and improvements to the materials听
Conflicts and disagreement听
Should there be a conflict between the terms of the MTA and funding terms and conditions, Research and Innovation Services (RIS) will advise the 果冻影院 researcher to request written approval from the funding body to deviate from the funding terms and conditions.听听
The 果冻影院 researcher will need to create a new Worktribe contract request and include the above-written approval.听听
RIS听will then agree to a formal amendment to the funding terms and conditions to reflect the change.听听听
How to request an MTA听听
If you require an MTA, the process begins with the completion of either the MTA or DTA Incoming/Outgoing form, to be included with the submission of a Worktribe contract request.
The process for incoming and outgoing MTAs is the same:
- Once you have identified you require an MTA,听inform your听Research Group Leader
- Read 果冻影院鈥檚 MTA policy听(果冻影院 login required)
- If you are requesting an听Incoming MTA or DTA, please complete the听Incoming MTA form.听If you are requesting an Outgoing MTA/DTA, please complete the听Outgoing MTA form.听
- Complete听a听Data Protection Impact Assessment听(DPIA),听where the material includes or is for听pseudonymised or personal data
- Ensure you have听appropriate听ethical approval. Material transfer听(including data transfers)听commonly听requires听specific ethical approval听and assessment, including听transfer of听Human tissue ethics听and听Human tissue integrity,听Animal research at 果冻影院, and听Biological Services听
- Create a contract request in听Worktribe听and upload all relevant documentation and information related to the MTA.
Where it is linked to a current project, ensure that the听Worktribe听contract request听is听linked to the project听in听听(see exceptions above) - You will receive a notification from the contracts team once your MTA has been approved.听
Once the MTA is signed by the recipient and provider,听you may听arrange the transfer of听the听materials.听
MTA process diagram
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