UnFunded Research Agreements

Sometimes called a CDA or NDA, this is a legally binding contract in which the University and another organization or individual promises to treat specific information as a secret and promises not to disclose the secret to others without proper authorization. Learn more about non-disclosure agreements and when you might need one.

This is a document that governs the transfer of tangible research materials from one organization to another for a specified purpose. An MTA defines the rights of the provider and the recipient with respect to the materials and any derivatives or inventions following the recipient’s use of the materials. 
At UMN, the office responsible for oversight of the MTA depends on the direction of the material. SPA facilitates MTAs for material coming into UMN for UMN’s use, and Technology Commercialization facilitates MTAs for material leaving UMN for an external party’s use. 

Typically, an MTA is one-directional, with permissions, restrictions, and conditions of use granted by a provider to a recipient. If the scope of your project contemplates involvement or collaboration by both provider and recipient, a collaboration agreement with material sharing terms may be preferred.

This is a document that outlines the terms for the transfer of nonpublic or other restricted data between organizations for a specified purpose. Often, this is data that has been collected or developed by nonprofit, government, or private industry, where the data is nonpublic or is otherwise subject to some restrictions on its use.

A DUA is not required if there is another agreement (e.g. funding agreement) in place that already addresses the terms and conditions of the data transfer between the two entities.

DUAs for research activity at UMN come in a range of shapes and sizes, with the type of data being shared and restrictions involved varying greatly. Most commonly, DUAs are used when sharing protected health information (PHI) in the form of a limited data set (LDS) as defined and required by HIPAA. Occasionally, DUAs for research purposes appear as license agreements where UMN is licensing nonpublic data from an external party.

Other DUAs may contemplate the sharing and use of:

• PHI which has been fully de-identified
• PII
• FERPA
• Federal or state-protected human data
• Non-human data (e.g. companion animals)
• Other nonpublic data or intangible material

Additional guidance:

• FDP guidance on data agreements 
• FDP data classification tool
• Map: Can this UMN data be shared with another party
• Map: Is an agreement needed for this data transfer
• Assistance with classification of PHI (HIPCO)

This is a document that establishes the terms and conditions of the transfer and use of research materials and/or data between parties. The direction of material and/or data can vary and may be bidirectional. RCAs often outline additional terms, including the protection of intellectual property rights, confidentiality obligations, publication restrictions, and liability.

A request for an RCA should include a description of the project which outlines each party’s role, project objectives, and deliverables.

Other types of unfunded or ancillary agreements reviewed by SPA’s UFRA team include, but are not limited to:

• Teaming Agreements
• Agreements related to clinical trial activity, such as: 
  • Compassionate Use Agreement
  • Expanded Access Protocol Agreement
  • Clinical Trial Supply Agreement
• Intellectual Property Agreements
• Equipment Loan Agreements
• MOUs and LOUs