But a new automated system for approving and tracking the transfer of research materials is putting research back in the fast lane. In the past, that lifeline could sometimes get tangled in red tape. But OTD's new eMTA database quickly cuts through the red tape. Let's say a scientist at another university wants to use a cell line created by Dr. Jones, a Carolina researcher. The eMTA database handles the rest.
Faculty can now send an agreement out to their collaborators within minutes of the initial request.
In the past, completing an MTA involved a lot of paperwork. If our faculty wanted materials from an external party, they usually mailed an MTA to our office. We would then contact the other institution and negotiate an agreement satisfactory to both sides. Researchers then had to call OTD to determine the status of a pending MTA, Sedam said. Not any more.