Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) are agreements that establish the terms and conditions upon which proprietary materials are transferred by BU to outside parties, or received by BU from outside parties, for use by designated persons in specified and approved research protocols.

Why are MTAs important?

MTAs protect the intellectual property rights of Boston University, Boston University Medical Schools and/or Boston Medical Center in unique materials you have created. An MTA may also provide important protections against liability for the University and/or BMC with respect to the materials transferred.

MTA requests are reviewed and negotiated in close coordination with Export Control and the Institutional Biosafety Committee.

What do MTAs do?

MTAs address both the manner and the scope in the following areas:

  • Permitted use of the proprietary materials.
  • Terms of the institution and the researcher’s publication rights with respect to the use of the proprietary materials.
  • The respective intellectual property rights of the provider of, and the recipient of, the proprietary materials.

Incoming Material Transfer Agreements

 

Outgoing Material Transfer Agreements

 

Contact Us

Currently, work is underway to standardize MTA agreements and the processes relating to them. Where possible, the federally developed MTAs are used. If you have additional questions please contact either:

William P. Segarra, JD, MPH, Director, Contracting, Industry Engagement | email or call 617-353-6151

Michael J. Pratt, MBA, Managing Director, Technology Development | email or call 617-353-4569