Potential U.S. Federal Government Shutdown: Research Continuity Guidance

Exchange Commercially Unavailable Materials

with a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)

An MTA is used to govern the transfer of tangible materials from/to an organization, where the recipient intends to use the materials for research purposes.

The MTA defines the rights of the provider and the recipient with respect to the materials and any derivatives. Biological materials, such as reagents, cell lines, plasmids, and vectors, are the most frequently transferred materials, but MTAs may also be used for other types of materials, such as chemical compounds and even some types of software. This category also includes orders processed through material repositories such as Addgene, the non-profit plasmid repository.

When investigators want to obtain material for their research from outside the University, they should contact the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at osp_mta@cornell.edu. OSP is responsible for entering into agreements for incoming materials.

OSP has signed a Master Reception Agreement with Addgene. This agreement covers all requests for materials from Addgene that fall under the standard Uniform Biological Material Transfer Agreement (UBMTA) terms. Because OSP has signed this master agreement, individual standard Addgene MTAs no longer need to be processed through OSP. Investigators may request material directly through the Addgene online system. When material is requested, investigators will be asked to acknowledge the terms of use and assert that applicable compliances are in place. Addgene will then distribute the material to the investigator. Addgene will inform OSP when materials have been requested but OSP will not administer or track the individual orders.

If/when investigators choose to make their materials available to others they should contact the Cornell Center for Technology and Licensing (CTL) at (607) 254-4698. CTL is responsible for the licensing and use of Cornell intellectual property.

Process for negotiating an MTA