The Uniform Biological Material Transfer Agreement (UBMTA) serves as a crucial framework for institutions engaged in the exchange of biological research materials. While the NIH Simple Letter Agreement (SLA) is widely recommended for many material transfers, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) acknowledges the necessity of the UBMTA, especially when patented materials are involved. This agreement is designed to protect the rights of institutions providing materials that may have patent protection.
The UBMTA is versatile, accommodating both patented and unpatented materials. For institutions already signed onto the UBMTA, implementing a transfer is streamlined through a simple implementing letter for each specific material exchange. Organizations that are not yet signatories can still adopt the UBMTA framework by signing the Master Agreement and subsequently using the Implementing Letter. Alternatively, for those preferring stand-alone contracts that mirror the UBMTA’s principles, the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) MTA Templates offer a viable option.
AUTM plays a central role in the UBMTA ecosystem. By mutual agreement with NIH, AUTM acts as the central repository for signed UBMTA Master Agreements. Institutions intending to utilize the UBMTA for their biological material exchanges can submit their signed agreements to AUTM. AUTM diligently archives these original documents and maintains a publicly accessible listing. This listing includes the institution’s name, the signatory official’s details, and the agreement’s signing date. Should an institution decide to withdraw from the Master Agreement, AUTM updates the listing with the withdrawal date. It is important to note that AUTM’s role is primarily administrative; it does not verify the accuracy of the transcribed information or the signatory’s authority, thus reliance on the AUTM listing is at the user’s own discretion.
To become a UBMTA signatory, interested parties can download the UBMTA Master Agreement. The process involves printing, completing, and signing the agreement, followed by emailing it to [email protected] or mailing it to AUTM’s Washington, DC office.
Further details about the UBMTA are available in the Federal Register.
Read UBMTA Federal Register Information
A comprehensive list of Master UBMTA Agreement Signatories is also accessible online.
Master UBMTA Agreement Signatories
This information is part of a broader toolkit on Material Transfer Agreements.
