Research projects at universities often require sharing materials, with colleagues at other institutions and companies. Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) are legal contracts that ensure confidentiality and protect intellectual property rights — ownership, publication, permitted use, liability — related to the transfer of research materials. Materials include, but are not limited to: samples, reagents, chemical compounds, antibodies or other biological materials, plant- and animal-derived material, and software. Transferring human materials, live animals, and hazardous materials require additional considerations. Please consult with our office before transferring these materials. Types of MTAs Incoming MTAs – Govern the transfer of material from another research institution, nonprofit, or for-profit to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Outgoing MTAs– Govern the transfer of material from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to another research institution, nonprofit, or for-profit. Plant Material Testing Agreement– Governs the transfer of plant materials from the owner to an external party who plans to test the plant variety in their environment.
