The Case Western Reserve University Office of Pre-Award Services and Agreements (PASA) - Data Use Agreement/Material Transfer Agreement Unit is responsible for the review and negotiation of material transfer agreements (MTAs), biospecimen transfer agreements (BTAs) and data use agreements (DUAs). We assist with the preparation and execution of these documents. All MTAs, BTAs and DUAs are required to be signed by an authorized signatory for the university; this can only be done by the PASA: DUA/MTA Unit.
Get in Touch
- Contact CWRU-MTA@case.edu for assistance with your material transfer needs.
- Contact CWRU-DUA@case.edu for assistance with your data and biospecimen transfer needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
A material transfer agreement (MTA) is a legally binding agreement between two parties (a “provider” and a “recipient”) for the unfunded transfer of tangible research assets to be used for the recipient’s research own purposes.
A data use agreement (DUA) is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties to establish the legal terms and conditions of the transfer and use of research data by the recipient(s) for research related-purposes. Learn more about DUAs.
A biospecimen transfer agreement (BTA) is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties to establish the legal terms and conditions of the transfer and use of biospecimens (also referred to as “samples”) by the recipient(s) for research-related purposes.
An MTA, DUA and/or BTA request should be initiated as soon as you want to provide or receive any tangible research materials to or from another entity for non-commercial research use (with respect to materials), anytime you want to provide or receive research data or biospecimens for research-related purposes (with respect to data and biospecimens). You cannot legally send or receive research materials, data and/or biospecimens prior to having a fully executed MTA, DUA and/or BTA, which is signed by the appropriate authorized signatories of both parties.
These agreements provide protection (to both provider and recipient) on ownership rights, intellectual property rights and uses, academic publication, permitted uses and liability. In the absence of a valid MTA, DUA, and/or BTA, one can lose valuable rights, including intellectual property, and other rights.
No. Only transfers with entities outside of CWRU require MTAs, DUAs or BTAs.
Yes. Many times a department administrator (DA) will complete the DUA, BTA or MTA intake form(s). Upon receipt and review of the intake form, the department will reach out to the PI and DA with any questions.
Only approved signatories from the CWRU PASA: DUA/MTA Unit may sign for the university, though often PIs are asked to sign that they have “read and acknowledged” the agreement, in addition to the required authorized signatory signature.
If all items (materials, data and/or biospecimens) have the same recipient, then yes, one request can be made, provided clear and sufficient details are included so that the request is easily ascertained. You are required to list and describe, with specificity, each material, biospecimen and/or elements of the data being transferred, separately in the internal intake form.