Frequently Asked Questions

Personnel additions are not required to be submitted – they are captured by Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) at the time of initial training (required prior to anyone beginning work with radioactive materials) and other personnel changes are captured by EHS during annually-required retraining summaries.  Other amendments should be submitted using the Request for Authorization to Use Radioactive Material form and checking “Amendment to current authorization” in response to question 4.

When a High School student will conduct research or work (paid or unpaid) at Penn State University, the "High School Students in the Laboratory" form  must be completed to ensure that the student has received the appropriate instruction and parental consent.  This form is online at http://www.ehs.psu.edu/occhealth/high_school_students.pdf.

Carefully review your new grant and existing approved Authorization to Use Radioactive Materials.  If any isotopes/procedures in the new grant are not covered in the existing approved Authorization, submit an amendment using the Request for Authorization to Use Radioactive Material form and checking “Amendment to current authorization” in response to question 4.

An MTA outlines the terms of use of tangible research materials. While terms may vary from one agreement to the next, the most commonly negotiated elements include: rights and ownership of intellectual property and data, publication rights, liability and governance. MTAs cover a wide array of materials, including, but not limited to, animals, reagents, cell lines, devices, software and data. MTAs allow researchers to share tangible materials as well as receive tangible materials without necessarily having to purchase them.

An MTA is required when:

1. Penn State owned tangible research materials including, but not limited to, animals, reagents, cell lines, devices, software and data are being sent to another academic institution, research institution or company.
2.  A Penn State researcher will receive tangible research materials including, but not limited to, animals, reagents, cell lines, devices, software and data from another academic institution, research institution or company.  If the materials are being shipped to Penn State, Penn State often uses the company/institution’s agreement.

For all University locations other than the Hershey Medical Center/College of Medicine:

Penn State’s Office of Technology Management (OTM) processes all MTAs for materials being shipped from Penn State and materials being shipped to Penn State from another academic institution, research institution or company.  

Many of Penn State’s Colleges also have their own checklist completion requirements and/or other approval requirements for MTAs.  Researchers should consult with their College’s Research Office regarding any additional MTA requirements or may contact the OTM for additional information.

If biological materials are being sent or received, the Uniform Biological Materials Transfer Agreement (UBMTA) can be used if the other institution/company has signed the Master UBMTA. You can check the list of entities that have signed the Master UBMTA as well as download the UBMTA for completing here. The UBMTA should still be sent through the OTM for execution on behalf of Penn State.

The OTM coordinates with Penn State's Office for Research Protections (ORP) to verify that all necessary research oversight committee (i.e. IRB, IACUC, IBC and UIC) approvals are in place for all materials listed on the MTA. If materials are being received from or shipped outside of the United States, the OTM also completes an export review to ensure that there is no export control on the materials.

The OTM will prepare and forward the MTA for appropriate signatures by the other company/institution and/or PSU. Once the agreement is fully executed, a signed copy will be sent to the other institution/company and the OTM will notify the Penn State researcher and the College so that arrangements can be made to send/receive the materials. (Please note: All incoming and outgoing animal shipments must be coordinated through Penn State’s Animal Resource Program.  When shipping hazardous materials, researchers must adhere to Penn State Policy SY34, Hazardous Material Shipping.)

The MTA execution process can sometimes take one to two weeks to complete.

Any questions regarding an MTA should be directed to the OTM (814-865-6277 or otminfo@psu.edu).