Material Transfer Agreement

A Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) is a contractual agreement that governs the transfer of tangible research material between two institutions, when the receiving institution’s investigator intends to use the material in her own research project. MTAs address intellectual property rights, liability issues that may result from the research, publication of research results, and limitation of use issues. At the University of New Mexico, Health Sciences Center, MTAs are required for any incoming or outgoing materials.

Below, we answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs). If you have a question that is not addressed below, please email our general email at HSC-PreAward@salud.unm.edu.

MTA Q&A

Who Should I Contact About MTAs?

Submit your MTA request through Click ERA Agreements module. For general questions, please email our general email at HSC-PreAward @salud.unm.edu.

Who Signs MTAs?

For the Health Science Center, Dr. Richard Larson, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President for Research is the authorized signatory.

Why are MTAs Important?

MTAs are important because they protect the rights of both parties. They govern issues such as:

Ownership of materials and ownership of any modifications or derivatives made by the recipient.
Limits on the use of the materials by the recipient and related liability.
Rights to inventions resulting from the use of the materials.
Rights to publish research obtained through the use of the materials.

Material Transfer Agreement

MTA Q&A

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