Material Transfer Agreements

The Office of Technology & Industry Alliances has the sole authority to negotiate and sign MTAs for the campus.

A Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) is a contract that governs the transfer of tangible research materials between two organizations, when the recipient intends to use it for his or her own research purposes, and when no research collaboration between scientists is planned. Materials are usually provided under a MTA at no cost, although a small fee is sometimes charged. MTAs are used to transfer a broad array of materials, including biological materials (such as plant samples, reagents, cell lines, plasmids, and vectors), chemical compounds, engineering components, and even software and data. MTAs are considered “Incoming MTAs” when materials are being provided to a UCSB researcher from another organization, and “Outgoing MTAs,” when our researchers wish to provide the materials to another.

The typical terms of an MTA are designed to protect the provider’s property interests in the material and, since most materials are experimental, to indemnify the provider from liabilities that result from the recipient’s use. While many MTAs are relatively straightforward, particularly those between two universities, MTAs can contain terms that can negatively impact a research program. It is not uncommon to find embedded in the a draft MTA publication restrictions, onerous intellectual property terms, or terms that conflict with the grants or contracts that fund the project. Thus, it is critical that all MTAs be carefully reviewed and negotiated.

Frequently, investigators are asked to sign the MTA. However, since the MTA is a contract, the official signature can only come from those at UCSB who are charged with the task of reviewing them, and who have been delegated authority to bind the Regents of the University of California contractually. The Office of Research is the office with authority and responsibility for the negotiation and execution of material transfer agreements.

If you would like to provide or receive materials, please complete either the Incoming or Outgoing MTA Request Form, which provides the MTA Officer with the critical information needed to review and negotiate appropriate MTA terms.

More Information About MTAs

• The UCSB MTA QuickGuide
• Materials Transfer in Academia: 20 Questions and Answers, by the Council on Government Relations

Select Policies Regarding MTAs

• UC Guidelines on University-Industry Relations (see Section 10)
• UC Principles Regarding Rights to Future Research Results in University Agreements with External Parties
• NIH/Public Health Service Policy Relating to Distribution of Unique Research Resources Produced with NIH/PHS Funding
• NIH/PHS Policy on Sharing of Model Organisms for Biomedical Research

MTA Forms

• MTA Incoming Form
• MTA Outgoing Form
• MTA (Unilateral) Outgoing Form

UCSB MTA Contact

Jill Boltz
Industry Contracts Officer
boltz@research.ucsb.edu
(805) 893-5197