Understanding the use of Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) for EMMA
Distribution of EMMA strains is subject to the EMMA legally binding conditions. EMMA only acts as distributor and any already existing MTAs will remain in full force and effect.
An MTA is a legal document that helps regulate the transfer of biological materials (like cell lines, DNA, bacteria, or rodent strains such as mouse or rat models) between organizations, such as universities, research institutes, or companies.
Why is it useful?
- Clarifies Ownership – It states who owns the material and whether the recipient can modify or share it.
- Defines Permitted Use – It explains what the recipient can (or cannot) do with the material, such as using it only for research and not for commercial purposes.
- Protects Intellectual Property – If the use of the material leads to new discoveries/inventions, the MTA helps ensure that the provider’s contributions and recipient’s work on the material are recognized. The recipient cannot file for any intellectual property without the provider’s written approval.
- Addresses Liability & Safety – The MTA includes information on safety and proper use. The material is provided “as is” and without warranty. The recipient is responsible for complying with all applicable laws and for ensuring safe storage, use, and disposal.
- Ensures Compliance with Regulations – Some biological materials may have ethical, legal, or environmental restrictions, and an MTA helps make sure all rules are followed.
- Prevents Commercial Misuse – Research materials from EMMA are for non-commercial use only. If a recipient wants to use the material for commercial purposes (e.g. in a collaboration with a company), a separate license is required.
- Supports Scientific Transparency – Publications based on the material are allowed, but the provider should be acknowledged* — including citations to the strain if available. Where appropriate, the provider may also be included as a co-author. In some cases, the publication must be shared with the provider before submission.
In short, an MTA protects both the provider and the recipient by setting clear rules for the transfer and use of biological materials in research.
* In the details pages for each EMMA strain you can find a ready-to-use sentence for citing the strain in your publications. Please use this or a similar sentence when citing a mutant strain obtained from EMMA.
