D748 Nucleic Acids Research, 2010, Vol. 38, Database issue that are identical or similar to a nucleotide or amino acid sequence of interest. Besides assisting when searching for clones that are similar to hypothetical genes or genes of unknown function, it also provides access to our entire collection of plasmids to researchers who otherwise may only be familiar with a particular clone collection within our repository. PLASMID SHARING AND DISTRIBUTION Quality control A critical aspect of plasmid distribution is maintaining the quality of the sample and the data to ensure that the researcher receives exactly what was requested. The material repository uses the same strict quality control measures for incoming PSI plasmids as we have used for the rest of our collection, which includes automated data storage and tracking of the sample at all stages of process- ing, automated sample handling, and full-length sequence veriﬁcation. In addition, each plasmid and vector entering the repository is annotated by a PhD level scientist to ensure that complete and accurate annotations are pre- sented to the researcher. Ordering plasmids. Researchers request plasmids directly through our ordering website DNASU (http://dnasu.asu .edu). Once ordered, the plasmids are automatically picked using a robotic picking station that selects the correct samples from 96-well plates of glycerol stock samples stored in 2D barcoded tubes. Plasmids are grown overnight in media and shipped via FedEx the next day as glycerol stocks. Since beginning distribution of PSI plasmids in April 2008, we have ﬁlled 138 orders for 228 PSI plasmids, which accounts for over 12% of all orders that have been ﬁlled at the repository in the past year. We have implemented a recharge system, managed by DNASU, to oﬀset the handling fees associated with preparing and sending plasmids. In addition, we make an eﬀort to signiﬁcantly reduce the per-clone costs for large predetermined collections in order to encourage high-throughput studies. Expedited MTA Concept. In order to simplify and streamline the transfer of plasmid materials to researchers from the PSI-MR, we developed an EP-MTA. Based on advice from the Harvard Medical School Oﬃce of Technology Development and the Harvard University Oﬃce of General Counsel, we deﬁned the two central charac- teristics of this process to be: (i) a large set of material, which is bundled together as a collection (either physically or virtually) that can be managed under the same funda- mental transfer terms and (ii) institutions agree to these terms ‘in advance’ of any subsequent material requests. In practice, researchers from ‘in-network’ member institutions (i.e. institutions that have signed the Expedited Process Agreement and the Standard Plasmid Transfer Agreement; see Supplementary Data) request and receive plasmids from the collection without addi- tional MTA review by the Oﬃce of Technology Transfer (OTT). Because in-network institutions have already legally agreed to the terms of the MTA, their researchers must only indicate personal agreement to the terms using an online click-through mechanism at the time of placing the order. Database tracking makes it straightforward to regularly notify each OTT of the materials received by its institution for their records. This expedited process has been implemented for the past three years for over 900 orders within a growing network of 70 public and private, national and interna- tional institutions whose researchers request materials from the DNASU/PlasmID and the PSI-MR. Applying the expedited process to other collections. This expedited process can be applied broadly to most material collections at either academic or commercial institutions, adjusting the transfer terms as appropriate for the sample type and speciﬁcs of the collection. For example, this approach could be used for materials that carry features with IP owned by third parties, such as plasmid backbones with patented promoters or tags. If the embedded IP requires a user license, it can be noted with an addendum to the standard MTA that applies to speciﬁcally indicated material. Because the entire process is managed automatically with a database, the IP holder can be notiﬁed that material including their IP has been distributed, so that they can contact the recipient about obtaining a license. This ﬂexible method simpliﬁes and streamlines biological material transfers, which not only unburdens technology transfer oﬃcers, but also increases the accessibility of materials to researchers. FUTURE OUTLOOK The creation of a material repository for the PSI plasmid collection beneﬁts both PSI researchers and the general biological community. Besides functioning as a backup archive for data and samples for the PSI centers, the PSI-MR also provides a centralized location where any researcher can search for and request plasmids created at dozens of PSI Centers spread across the USA. The majority of researchers who access our plasmid collection are not structural biologists; however, through DNASU, they are exposed to protein expression plasmids and struc- tural information from the PSI, making the PSI-MR a useful portal for nonstructural biologists to become familiar with structural genomics eﬀorts. As the PSI moves forward into the next 5-year phase (PSI:Biology; http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Initiatives/PSI/ psi_biology/), the focus of these structural genomics eﬀorts is shifting towards a deeper collaboration with biologists in order to understand the function of the proteins whose structures are solved by the PSI. While we will continue veriﬁcation, annotation and distri- bution of PSI plasmids and vectors, we will also expand the network of institutions in our EP-MTA program so that these researchers can receive these plasmids without delay. We anticipate that this will only increase the neces- sity and utility of the PSI-MR as a facilitator for the interactions and the transfer of plasmids between PSI