Material Transfer Agreements (MTA)

ANY AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE RESEARCH, TRANSFER, OR RECEIPT OF HUMAN SPECIMEN OR MATERIALS OF HUMAN ORIGIN, SHALL BE HANDLED BY THE OFFICE OF SPONSORED RESEARCH (OSR)

Agreements governing the transfer of all other material(s) from an outside organization to Northwestern or from Northwestern to an outside organization are handled by Tech Transfer @ NU.

MTAs are executed when proprietary materials are transferred in or out of Northwestern. Whether for inbound or outbound materials, MTAs are critical documents that require signatures from the Provider(s) and Recipient institution(s) to ensure that each party will comply with the terms of the agreement. MTAs must be logged in appropriately for the reasons cited below:

MTA Protocol:

Inbound Materials:

When a MTA is received by the Principal Investigator (PI) from an outside party in lieu of materials exchange or transfer, the agreement should be emailed to Tech Transfer @ NU at mta@northwestern.edu if a Word version is available, or faxed to Tech Transfer @ NU at 847-491-3625 if only a hard copy is available. Investigators must also complete the Inbound Material Form, and submit to Tech Transfer @ NU at the same time.

Tech Transfer @ NU will promptly review the agreement and inform the PI by phone or e-mail whether or not the agreement can be executed without change. If the original agreement is acceptable, Tech Transfer @ NU will request that the agreement be signed by the PI and sent to Tech Transfer @ NU electronically at mta@northwestern.edu or by campus mail. Tech Transfer @ NU will execute it immediately and send duplicate originals to the other party. If any part of the agreement infringes on the PI's academic freedom, Tech Transfer @ NU will negotiate with the outside party to modify those sections. The PI will be informed of the process and the estimated time for executing the modified agreement. For the reasons cited above, MTAs from companies require modification more frequently than those from non-profit organizations. The negotiation process can be quite lengthy, so investigators should plan accordingly when requesting corporate materials.

Outbound Materials:

A request for Northwestern materials by an outside party should be sent to Tech Transfer @ NU at mta@northwestern.edu. Investigators should also complete the Outbound Material Form and send to Tech Transfer @ NU at mta@northwestern.edu at the same time. Tech Transfer @ NU will execute the agreement on behalf of Northwestern and promptly send it to the other party. Tech Transfer @ NU will inform the PI by e-mail when the MTA is fully executed so that the requested material may be sent by the PI. A copy of the fully executed MTA will be sent to the PI by fax or campus mail.

Protocol for Human Specimen or Materials of Human Origin:

A special procedure exists if you are requesting the research, transfer, or receipt of human materials. Please begin by filling out the Inbound Material Form or Outbound Material Form, as appropriate, being sure to include your Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or exemption number covering the research project in which that human material will be used, and submitting it to mta@northwestern.edu. After the terms of the agreement are reviewed by Tech Transfer @ NU, the IRB reference number and protocol description will be sent to the Office for the Protection of Research Subjects (OPRS) for approval. Once approved, the MTA will be sent to Dr. Lewis Smith for signature.

Cre/Lox:

Northwestern has signed a site license with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) that gives our scientists certain rights to use cre/lox technology and materials in their research.* The agreement places certain obligations on Northwestern and all its scientists, and thus your cooperation is needed. If you currently have in your laboratory any research materials, including constructs, cell lines, and/or animals, that contain cre DNA and/or lox DNA, regardless of when you obtained them or from what source, or if you acquire such materials in the future, you must abide by the terms of the BMS license agreement including the following limitations:

1. The license does not allow the use of cre/lox in higher plants or agricultural applications, in the alteration of mouse embryonic stem cells or other pluripotential mouse cells for the purpose of preparing a library of such mouse embryonic stem cells or other pluripotential mouse cells containing cre and/or lox DNA, or in activities associated with products intended for use as functional foods, nutraceuticals, supplements (including vitamin or mineral supplements), animal drugs, or biomaterials (whether or not intended for use in medical devices);

2. The license prohibits the use of cre/lox in most types of research involving other companies. Any research project involving cre/lox that is sponsored by a for-profit source must be approved by OSR. Research involving cre/lox that uses any material obtained under a Material Transfer Agreement must be approved by the Technology Transfer Program;

3. The license allows for the transfer of new materials containing cre DNA and/or lox DNA to other non-profit institutions, but only under a special Material Transfer Agreement.

4. You must provide a sample of any substance you create that contains cre and/or lox DNA to BMS upon request.

In order to ensure compliance with the terms of the license agreement, all investigators using cre-lox technology should:

i) send an e-mail to mta@northwestern.edu with a description of the cre/lox materials in your possession and your intended use of the materials;
ii) notify OSR of any intention to use cre/lox materials in connection with a sponsored program (Note: a new item will appear on the OSR-1 form to attest compliance)
iii) notify Tech Transfer @ NU if cre/lox materials were used in any disclosed inventions
iv) notify Tech Transfer @ NU if you intend to use cre/lox materials in connection with other materials obtained under Material Transfer Agreements.
v) prior to sending any reagents, cell lines, or animal models containing cre and/or lox DNA to anyone outside of Northwestern, contact the Technology Transfer Program to ensure that the proper procedures are followed.

Any questions regarding the terms of the license agreement or restrictions on activities involving cre/lox materials should be directed to mta@northwestern.edu.

*The cre/lox technology was originally patented by DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company, but BMS acquired DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company and thus Northwestern’s license is with BMS.

WiCell:

Northwestern University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with WiCell Research Institute, Inc., for research use of Wisconsin Stem Cells™ developed by Dr. James A. Thomson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Under the terms of this MOU, each Northwestern faculty member wishing to receive the Wisconsin Stem Cells™ into his/her laboratory must make a separate request to WiCell. He/she will then be asked to sign a Simple Letter Agreement acknowledging the terms of the MOU and to pay a fee to cover WiCell's handling and distribution expenses. Details about the Wisconsin Stem Cells™, including instructions for ordering, can be found at WiCell's web site (hTech Transfer @ NU://www.wicell.org).

The MOU places the following restrictions on the use of all Wisconsin Stem Cells™:

You may not combine stem cells with any intact embryo, either human or non-human

You may not implant the stem cells in a uterus

You may not attempt to make whole embryos by any method

You may not transfer the stem cells to anyone outside of your laboratory, even within Northwestern, without the written consent of WiCell.

You may not use WiCell stem cells in sponsored research if the sponsor is granted any rights to the results except for rights to non-commercial research. Exceptions are made for any sponsor, including the Public Health Service, that has an agreement with WiCell.

It is extremely important that all investigators using WiCell stem cells are aware of these restrictions. It will be the responsibility of each faculty member who signs a Simple Letter Agreement to:

Adhere to all the restrictions on the use of the stem cells summarized above

Inform the members of his/her laboratory of the restrictions and monitor the compliance

Provide WiCell with annual certification of compliance as provided in the Simple Letter Agreement

Disclose the intent to use WiCell stem cells in the work scope of any research proposal submitted to OSR

Obtain clearance from OSR prior to using the stem cells in research funded by any corporation, foundation, or governmental agency other than the NIH.

Inform the Technology Transfer Program of any intent to use the stem cells connection with cre-lox technology or with any materials obtained under a Material Transfer Agreement.

	For Inventors For Industry and Investors Available Technologies Start-Ups News and Events About Tech Transfer Contact Home		Material Transfer Agreements (MTA) ANY AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE RESEARCH, TRANSFER, OR RECEIPT OF HUMAN SPECIMEN OR MATERIALS OF HUMAN ORIGIN, SHALL BE HANDLED BY THE OFFICE OF SPONSORED RESEARCH (OSR) Agreements governing the transfer of all other material(s) from an outside organization to Northwestern or from Northwestern to an outside organization are handled by Tech Transfer @ NU. MTAs are executed when proprietary materials are transferred in or out of Northwestern. Whether for inbound or outbound materials, MTAs are critical documents that require signatures from the Provider(s) and Recipient institution(s) to ensure that each party will comply with the terms of the agreement. MTAs must be logged in appropriately for the reasons cited below: MTA Protocol: Inbound Materials: When a MTA is received by the Principal Investigator (PI) from an outside party in lieu of materials exchange or transfer, the agreement should be emailed to Tech Transfer @ NU at mta@northwestern.edu if a Word version is available, or faxed to Tech Transfer @ NU at 847-491-3625 if only a hard copy is available. Investigators must also complete the Inbound Material Form, and submit to Tech Transfer @ NU at the same time. Tech Transfer @ NU will promptly review the agreement and inform the PI by phone or e-mail whether or not the agreement can be executed without change. If the original agreement is acceptable, Tech Transfer @ NU will request that the agreement be signed by the PI and sent to Tech Transfer @ NU electronically at mta@northwestern.edu or by campus mail. Tech Transfer @ NU will execute it immediately and send duplicate originals to the other party. If any part of the agreement infringes on the PI's academic freedom, Tech Transfer @ NU will negotiate with the outside party to modify those sections. The PI will be informed of the process and the estimated time for executing the modified agreement. For the reasons cited above, MTAs from companies require modification more frequently than those from non-profit organizations. The negotiation process can be quite lengthy, so investigators should plan accordingly when requesting corporate materials. Outbound Materials: A request for Northwestern materials by an outside party should be sent to Tech Transfer @ NU at mta@northwestern.edu. Investigators should also complete the Outbound Material Form and send to Tech Transfer @ NU at mta@northwestern.edu at the same time. Tech Transfer @ NU will execute the agreement on behalf of Northwestern and promptly send it to the other party. Tech Transfer @ NU will inform the PI by e-mail when the MTA is fully executed so that the requested material may be sent by the PI. A copy of the fully executed MTA will be sent to the PI by fax or campus mail. Protocol for Human Specimen or Materials of Human Origin: A special procedure exists if you are requesting the research, transfer, or receipt of human materials. Please begin by filling out the Inbound Material Form or Outbound Material Form, as appropriate, being sure to include your Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or exemption number covering the research project in which that human material will be used, and submitting it to mta@northwestern.edu. After the terms of the agreement are reviewed by Tech Transfer @ NU, the IRB reference number and protocol description will be sent to the Office for the Protection of Research Subjects (OPRS) for approval. Once approved, the MTA will be sent to Dr. Lewis Smith for signature. Cre/Lox: Northwestern has signed a site license with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) that gives our scientists certain rights to use cre/lox technology and materials in their research.* The agreement places certain obligations on Northwestern and all its scientists, and thus your cooperation is needed. If you currently have in your laboratory any research materials, including constructs, cell lines, and/or animals, that contain cre DNA and/or lox DNA, regardless of when you obtained them or from what source, or if you acquire such materials in the future, you must abide by the terms of the BMS license agreement including the following limitations: 1. The license does not allow the use of cre/lox in higher plants or agricultural applications, in the alteration of mouse embryonic stem cells or other pluripotential mouse cells for the purpose of preparing a library of such mouse embryonic stem cells or other pluripotential mouse cells containing cre and/or lox DNA, or in activities associated with products intended for use as functional foods, nutraceuticals, supplements (including vitamin or mineral supplements), animal drugs, or biomaterials (whether or not intended for use in medical devices); 2. The license prohibits the use of cre/lox in most types of research involving other companies. Any research project involving cre/lox that is sponsored by a for-profit source must be approved by OSR. Research involving cre/lox that uses any material obtained under a Material Transfer Agreement must be approved by the Technology Transfer Program; 3. The license allows for the transfer of new materials containing cre DNA and/or lox DNA to other non-profit institutions, but only under a special Material Transfer Agreement. 4. You must provide a sample of any substance you create that contains cre and/or lox DNA to BMS upon request. In order to ensure compliance with the terms of the license agreement, all investigators using cre-lox technology should: i) send an e-mail to mta@northwestern.edu with a description of the cre/lox materials in your possession and your intended use of the materials; ii) notify OSR of any intention to use cre/lox materials in connection with a sponsored program (Note: a new item will appear on the OSR-1 form to attest compliance) iii) notify Tech Transfer @ NU if cre/lox materials were used in any disclosed inventions iv) notify Tech Transfer @ NU if you intend to use cre/lox materials in connection with other materials obtained under Material Transfer Agreements. v) prior to sending any reagents, cell lines, or animal models containing cre and/or lox DNA to anyone outside of Northwestern, contact the Technology Transfer Program to ensure that the proper procedures are followed. Any questions regarding the terms of the license agreement or restrictions on activities involving cre/lox materials should be directed to mta@northwestern.edu. *The cre/lox technology was originally patented by DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company, but BMS acquired DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company and thus Northwestern’s license is with BMS. WiCell: Northwestern University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with WiCell Research Institute, Inc., for research use of Wisconsin Stem Cells™ developed by Dr. James A. Thomson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Under the terms of this MOU, each Northwestern faculty member wishing to receive the Wisconsin Stem Cells™ into his/her laboratory must make a separate request to WiCell. He/she will then be asked to sign a Simple Letter Agreement acknowledging the terms of the MOU and to pay a fee to cover WiCell's handling and distribution expenses. Details about the Wisconsin Stem Cells™, including instructions for ordering, can be found at WiCell's web site (hTech Transfer @ NU://www.wicell.org). The MOU places the following restrictions on the use of all Wisconsin Stem Cells™: You may not combine stem cells with any intact embryo, either human or non-human You may not implant the stem cells in a uterus You may not attempt to make whole embryos by any method You may not transfer the stem cells to anyone outside of your laboratory, even within Northwestern, without the written consent of WiCell. You may not use WiCell stem cells in sponsored research if the sponsor is granted any rights to the results except for rights to non-commercial research. Exceptions are made for any sponsor, including the Public Health Service, that has an agreement with WiCell. It is extremely important that all investigators using WiCell stem cells are aware of these restrictions. It will be the responsibility of each faculty member who signs a Simple Letter Agreement to: Adhere to all the restrictions on the use of the stem cells summarized above Inform the members of his/her laboratory of the restrictions and monitor the compliance Provide WiCell with annual certification of compliance as provided in the Simple Letter Agreement Disclose the intent to use WiCell stem cells in the work scope of any research proposal submitted to OSR Obtain clearance from OSR prior to using the stem cells in research funded by any corporation, foundation, or governmental agency other than the NIH. Inform the Technology Transfer Program of any intent to use the stem cells connection with cre-lox technology or with any materials obtained under a Material Transfer Agreement.