The Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) is a dynamic network of academic health organizations providing leading edge research, teaching and clinical care.
All members share a joint mission of health and biomedical-related research and work cooperatively to facilitate and enhance collaboration among researchers.
To further enhance research partnerships, the members have created a simple, harmonized Data/Material Transfer and Use Agreement (D/MTA) template to promote the efficient and timely exchange of research data and materials across our institutions and researchers.
A Material or Data Transfer Agreement (MTA, DTA) is a legal agreement between a provider of material or data and a recipient. The agreement sets out the obligations of the parties and grants the recipient defined rights to use the proprietary material or data within an agreed upon scope.
To streamline the exchange of research data and materials between TAHSN researchers and institutions, a template agreement is available to all eligible researchers. Please carefully review the criteria below regarding the appropriate use of this template agreement. The agreement must be completed by the researcher providing the data and/or material (the “Provider Scientist”) and the researcher seeking to receive the data and/or material (the “Recipient Scientist”). Only researchers from the organizations which have agreed to this expedited process should use the template, please see below for a list of eligible organizations.
As with any MTA or DTA, the researchers must describe the nature of the data and/or material to be transferred; provide confirmation of any required approvals from their respective Research Ethics Boards or biosafety compliance; attest to the accuracy of the information being provided; and agree to comply with the standardized agreement terms. Once completed, each researcher submits the signed form to their respective institutional research office. However, the agreement must be finalized and executed by the respective institutions prior to the materials or data being transferred.
It is important to note that this expedited process and template agreement should only be used for routine data and material transfers between the eligible institutions listed below. This process is intended to facilitate the transfer of research materials and data related only to academic research pursuits. This agreement may only be used for the transfer of the following.
- Reagents such as chemicals, compounds, molecules, peptides.
- Biological materials such plasmids, cell lines, viral vectors, bacterial strains, antibodies.
- Human- and animal-derived materials and samples.
- Research data, including human-derived data.
- Confidential information provided in connection with the transfer of material or data
This template should not to be used to transfer data or material in the following circumstances.
- Funding or money is being transferred.
- Data and/or materials are to be used for commercial purposes.
- Data and/or materials are being transferred within a larger collaboration or joint research initiative
- Large or bulk quantities of data or material are to be transferred.
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
- The University of Toronto (U of T)
- The Hospital for Sick Children
- North York General Hospital
- Sinai Health System
- Sunnybrook Research Institute
- Toronto East Health Network
- Trillium Health Partners
- Unity Health Toronto
- University Health Network (UHN)
- Woman's College Hospital
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
For U of T Faculty Members seeking to use the TAHSN Simple Data/Material Transfer and Use Agreement.
- Download and complete the D/MTA template.
- Both scientists (provider and receiver) should sign the agreement and submit a copy to their respective research administration office. For UofT faculty members, log into the My Research (MR) system using your UTORid
- Select Non-Funded Agreements from the menu and then Create Agreement
- Select Material Transfer Agreement or Data Transfer Agreement from the list of non-funded agreement types, depending on the type of data/material being transferred
- Complete the online form and upload the signed D/MTA agreement to initiate the process
- Simple Data/Material Transfer Agreement Template (This agreement template is also accessible from the TAHSN website)
In addition to the following, IPO performs the legal and administrative review of MTAs.
- Participates in the negotiation of such agreements
- Acts as a resource for information related to MTAs
- Reviews MTA templates provided by a third party, along with relevant documentation
- Ensures agreements are consistent with University policies and guidelines
