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Material Transfer Agreements (MTA)

Introduction | Procedures

INTRODUCTION

A Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) is a contract covering the exchange of various kinds of materials between two entities where the recipient intends to use the materials in the recipient’s own research projects.  The materials transferred under MTAs include biological materials such as reagents, cell lines, cultures and vectors but may also be chemical compounds, prototypes and equipment.  Faculty members and departmental administrators do not have the authority to enter into MTAs on behalf of the University and as such the MTA must be sent to Office of Research Services (ORS) for processing and review. This rule applies whether it is an incoming MTA (UIC is the recipient of the Material) or if it is an outgoing MTA (UIC is the provider of the Material).

Three types of MTAs are most common at academic institutions: transfer between academic or research institutions, transfer from academic institutions to industry, and transfer from industry to academic institutions.   Should you have questions about an MTA or how to process one, refer to the “When to use Chart” or contact the Office of Research Services via email at awards@uic.edu or phone 312-996-2862.    

The material provider is typically not the sponsor of the research project in which you are using the materials.  If the material provider is also the sponsor of the research project, a sponsored research agreement may be the more appropriate form of agreement between the parties.  MTAs typically limit the recipient Investigator to using the transferred materials for a specific research project and for non-commercial purposes.  If the research project for which you are using the desired materials for is sponsored by a commercial sponsor, please notify ORS.    

PROCEDURES

Incoming MTA | Outgoing MTA

Procedures to be used for an INCOMING MTA

1. Required documents are:
   · A completed Proposal Approval Form (a PAF which is signed only by the PI)*
   · A completed Disclosure of Intellectual Property and Publication Rights in MTA form*
   · The form of MTA presented by the material provider for use.  If the material provider does not provide a form, please contact ORS for assistance. 
   
   * Both forms are available online.

2. Submit these forms to the Office of Research Services (ORS), Room 304 AOB, as you would any other proposal.

3. Obtain the Institutional Number assigned to this proposal prior to leaving ORS. This number will be required for any inquiry made on this proposal.

4. ORS (with assistance from the Office of University Counsel) will review and negotiate the presented MTA.  Input from the Investigator may be necessary during this process.

5. ORS will inform the PI when the MTA is executed. ORS will ensure the Investigator (and other project related personnel) receive the final signed MTA for their records.

Procedures to be used for an OUTGOING MTA

1. Required documents are:
   · A completed Proposal Approval Form (a PAF which is signed only by the PI)*
   · A completed Disclosure of Intellectual Property and Publication Rights form (and required attachments)*
   
   * Both forms are available on line.

2. Submit these forms to the Office of Research Services (ORS), Room 304 AOB, as you would any other proposal.  Upon review of the documents above, ORS will work with the Office of Technology Management (OTM) and University Counsel in order to determine the appropriate form of outgoing MTA to use.  PLEASE DO NOT PREDETERMINE WHICH FORM TO USE AND SEND SUCH FORM TO THE MATERIAL RECIPIENT WITHOUT FIRST CONTACTING ORS.

3. Obtain the Institutional Number assigned to this proposal prior to leaving ORS. This number will be required for any inquiry made on this proposal.

4. ORS (with assistance from the Office of University Counsel) will review and negotiate the MTA.  Input from the Investigator may be necessary during this process.

5. ORS will inform the Investigator when the MTA is executed. ORS will ensure the Investigator (and other project related personnel) receive the final signed MTA for their records.