Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs)

Material Transfer Agreements are essentially contracts between two parties that describe the terms and conditions underlying the transfer of biological materials, chemical compounds, and other tangible research materials.

To facilitate the processing of both outgoing MTAs (Wayne State-owned materials to be transferred to an outside organization) and incoming MTAs (materials owned by an outside organization transferred to Wayne State), the Technology Transfer Office has established the following procedures:

Outgoing MTAs

For assistance with outgoing MTAs, contact Eric Stief or Anne Di Sante, who will evaluate the proposed conditions of the material transfer and compose an appropriate agreement. With respect to the specific terms of the agreement, should any negotiations be necessary with the receiving party, the Technology Transfer Office will have responsibility for the negotiations.

Incoming MTAs

Researchers will be required to complete an Affirmation Memorandum ( Click HERE to download the form )  and forward the original MTA and signed Affirmation Memo to the MTA Coordinator at the Technology Transfer Office for processing. Upon receipt of these documents, the MTA will be processed based upon one of two scenarios:

Standard procedure:

1. Provider (either a company, university or government lab) sends WSU researcher the MTA to review, sign and have signed by an authorized WSU official;
2. WSU researcher provides MTA and completed Affirmation Memorandum to the Technology Transfer Office for handling;
3. TTO obtains a signed affirmation memo and sends package to General Counsel for approval of the MTA;
4. Technology Transfer signs MTA and sends original agreements to provider.
5. MTA goes to Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) for final administrative handling.
6. SPA sends copy of MTA to WSU researcher.

Uniform Biological Material Transfer Agreement (UBMTA) or Simple Letter Agreements:

1. Provider will always be a university or other non-profit organization which is a signatory to the UBMTA Master Agreement and will use the UBMTA Implementing Letter or the Simple Letter Agreement to cover the transfer
2. WSU researcher receives one of these two forms and provides it to TTO along with a completed Affirmation Memorandum 
3. Agreement goes to Technology Transfer for signature, since the UBMTA and the Simple Letter Agreement are pre-approved by General Counsel.