How is an NCL collaborator’s intellectual property safeguarded by the NCL?
A. The NCL takes the same security measures for protection of NCL sponsor intellectual property as for NCL data; every effort is made to ensure security and confidentiality. To share and safeguard research material and proprietary information, the NCL’s interaction with sponsors is normally conducted under a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) which includes a non-disclosure clause. The MTA permits the collaborative exchange of materials and data between the NCL and the sponsor. In certain circumstances, NCL–sponsor interaction is conducted under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).
