Silvia Cervo1,2, Paolo De Paoli3, Ermes Mestroni4, Tiziana Perin1,5, Luca Escoffier6, Vincenzo Canzonieri1,5, Agostino Steffan1,2. 1. CRO Biobank, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute, Aviano (Pordenone) - Italy. 2. Clinical Cancer Pathology, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute, Aviano (Pordenone) - Italy. 3. Scientific Directorate, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute, Aviano (Pordenone) - Italy. 4. Technology Transfer Office - Scientific Directorate, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute, Aviano (Pordenone) - Italy. 5. Pathology Division, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute, Aviano (Pordenone) - Italy. 6. Innoventually S.r.l.s., Trieste - Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Due to the scarcity of publications, guidelines, and harmonization among national regulations, biobanks and institutions face practical and theoretical issues when drafting a material transfer agreement (MTA), the fundamental tool to regulate the successful exchange of biosamples and information. Frequently researchers do not execute MTAs because of a general lack of knowledge about this topic. It is thus critical to develop new models to prevent loss of traceability and opportunities both for researchers and biobanks, their exposure to various risks, and delays in transferring biomaterials. METHODS: Through the involvement of institutional groups and professionals with multidisciplinary expertise, we have drawn up a ready-to-sign MTA for the CRO-Biobank (the biobank of the National Cancer Institute, CRO, Aviano), a standardized template that can be employed as a ready-to-use model agreement. RESULTS: The team identified the essential components to be included in the MTA, which comprise i) permissions, liability and representations; ii) custodianship and distribution limitations; iii) appropriate use of materials, including biosafety concerns; iv) confidentiality, non-disclosure, and publications; v) intellectual property protection for both the provider and recipient. CONCLUSIONS: This paper aims to be an unabridged report (among the few works in the existing literature) providing a description of the whole process related to the formation of an MTA. Biobanks and institutions may consider adopting our ready-to-sign form as a standard model. The article discusses the most important issues tackled during the drafting of the document, thus proposing an operative approach for other institutions that face the same problems.
PURPOSE: Due to the scarcity of publications, guidelines, and harmonization among national regulations, biobanks and institutions face practical and theoretical issues when drafting a material transfer agreement (MTA), the fundamental tool to regulate the successful exchange of biosamples and information. Frequently researchers do not execute MTAs because of a general lack of knowledge about this topic. It is thus critical to develop new models to prevent loss of traceability and opportunities both for researchers and biobanks, their exposure to various risks, and delays in transferring biomaterials. METHODS: Through the involvement of institutional groups and professionals with multidisciplinary expertise, we have drawn up a ready-to-sign MTA for the CRO-Biobank (the biobank of the National Cancer Institute, CRO, Aviano), a standardized template that can be employed as a ready-to-use model agreement. RESULTS: The team identified the essential components to be included in the MTA, which comprise i) permissions, liability and representations; ii) custodianship and distribution limitations; iii) appropriate use of materials, including biosafety concerns; iv) confidentiality, non-disclosure, and publications; v) intellectual property protection for both the provider and recipient. CONCLUSIONS: This paper aims to be an unabridged report (among the few works in the existing literature) providing a description of the whole process related to the formation of an MTA. Biobanks and institutions may consider adopting our ready-to-sign form as a standard model. The article discusses the most important issues tackled during the drafting of the document, thus proposing an operative approach for other institutions that face the same problems.
Authors: Luigi Coppola; Alessandra Cianflone; Anna Maria Grimaldi; Mariarosaria Incoronato; Paolo Bevilacqua; Francesco Messina; Simona Baselice; Andrea Soricelli; Peppino Mirabelli; Marco Salvatore Journal: J Transl Med Date: 2019-05-22 Impact factor: 5.531
Authors: Dominik Lermen; Frederik Gwinner; Martina Bartel-Steinbach; Sabine C Mueller; Jens K Habermann; Matharoo-Ball Balwir; Elke Smits; Ana Virgolino; Ulrike Fiddicke; Marika Berglund; Agneta Åkesson; Anna Bergstrom; Karin Leander; Milena Horvat; Janja Snoj Tratnik; Manuel Posada de la Paz; Argelia Castaño Calvo; Marta Esteban López; Hagen von Briesen; Heiko Zimmermann; Marike Kolossa-Gehring Journal: Biopreserv Biobank Date: 2020-04 Impact factor: 2.300