A Material Transfer Agreement (“MTA”) is a contract governing the transfer of materials between parties. The MTA defines the rights of the provider and the recipient with respect to the materials and any derivatives. MTAs can help to ensure a common understanding as to what is being shared, for what purpose, and how it can be used.

MTAs regularly govern the transfer of biological materials, such as samples but can also cover associated data, such as meta data or the clinical state of the donor.

MTAs also assist in setting out parties’ expectations about liability and who is responsible for particular risks that may arise during the course of using the material.