Biological Materials Transfer

摘要

"Neither a borrower, nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry." Researchers routinely lend samples of organisms, tissues, seeds, cells, extracts, and other biological materials without payment changing hands. While there is little doubt that this informal practice of "professional courtesy" has accelerated the pace of scientific discovery, recent cases point out that the transfer of biological materials is becoming an increasing source oflitigation. In the past ten years, drug-development companies and research institutions alike have been forced to divert considerable resources to litigation because there was no adequate written transfer agreement. To help prevent this possibility in your organization, it is important that everyone involved understand the legal implications of transferring biological materials.