Office of Research and Technology Ventures
Transfer of Materials
Material Transfer Policies
Dana-Farber is a non-profit research institute that receives funding from the U.S. government. Therefore, it must adhere to certain obligations and policies regarding the following issues in Material Transfer Agreements:
Obligations to the U.S. Government
- Dana-Farber will not assign ownership of inventions developed with federal funds.
- Dana-Farber must grant the U.S. government a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to any invention developed with federal funds.
Ownership of Inventions and Research Results
Dana-Farber shall retain ownership of all inventions, results and patents developed using its facilities. While Dana-Farber cannot assign its rights to inventions developed under research collaborations, license rights (exclusive or non-exclusive) can be provided.
Pre-set Financial Terms
Dana-Farber will not agree to pre-set financial terms for the grant of rights to future inventions.
Confidentiality and Publication
Dana-Farber reserves the right to freely publish and disclose the results of all research activities conducted at the Institute.
In the case of research activities involving materials received from companies under an MTA, Dana-Farber will provide the company with a limited period of time to review proposed publications and presentations. During this period, the company may redact its proprietary information and/or request a patent application be filed to protect new discoveries.
For a detailed description of relevant policies, please see Dana-Farber's Research Policy and Procedure Manual.