Announcement of GFP bioresources

RIKEN BioResource Research Center (RIKEN BRC) and Global Life Sciences Solutions Operations UK Ltd. (as successor-in-interest to GE Healthcare UK Limited) (Cytiva), concluded an agreement for the transfer of bioresources containing green fluorescent protein (GFP bioresources) to investigators at academic institutions, on July 12, 2011.
By generosity of Cytiva, RIKEN BRC has been distributing the GFP bioresources to universities and research institutions of national or local government for non-profit academic research purposes without license fees. The same framework is used for deposits.

As of May 22, 2012, the terms of the agreement have been extended to include a for-profit entity that has bona fide licenses of Cytiva. The GFP resources mean mouse strains, Arabidopsis thaliana seeds, cell lines of plant and human/animal origins, and genomic clones that contain GFP and GFP mutants. We hope that you will make use of these resources.

The Terms and Conditions for use in the most recent agreement with Cytiva are as follows:
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

1. For an investigator at a university or a research institution of national or local government, please download SCHEDULE A (Sample), “Letter for Use Prior to Transmission of Biological Materials to Investigators at Academic Institutions” from RIKEN BRC’s web site, fill in the form, and submit two signed copies of it to RIKEN BRC together with two signed copies of each of the Order Form, RIKEN BRC’s MTA and other necessary documents.
   (For an investigator at a not-for-profit institution but not at a university or a institution of a government, RIKEN BRC is required to consult with and obtain the authorization from Cytiva prior to distribution of GFP bioresources. Please contact us.)
2. Use by a for-profit entity, and use for-profit research purpose by a university, a research institution of national or local government or any other not-for-profit institution.
   1. You must first contact Cytiva directly and inquire about consent for use at the address given below, regardless of whether or not your entity is a Cytiva bona fide licensee.

      Head of Licensing
      Cytiva
      100 Results Way
      Marlborough MA 01752
      USA
      Email: LSLicensing@cytiva.com

   2. If you are a for-profit entity or a not-for-profit institution that has been confirmed as a Cytiva bona fide licensee and wish to place an order for GFP resources, you must download SCHEDULE A For Profit: Letter for Use Prior to Transmission of Biological Materials with Bona Fide Licenses, and fill in the required information. Please send to RIKEN BRC, two signed copies of SCHEDULE A For Profit, and two signed copies of each of the Order Form and RIKEN BRC’s MTA.
      NOTE: GFP bioresources may not be used for commercial purposes as defined in SCHEDULE A
      “Commercial Purposes” defined by Cytiva means any activity by a party for consideration and may include, but is not limited to: (1) use of any of the Materials or their progeny or derivatives in manufacturing; (2) use of any of the Materials or their progeny or derivatives to provide a service (including screening), information, or data for consideration (provision of information, such as reports, to agencies providing grants to your institution is not a Commercial Purpose); (3) use of any of the Materials or their progeny or derivatives for therapeutic, diagnostic or prophylactic purposes; or (4) resale of the Materials or their progeny or derivatives, whether or not such Materials or their progeny or derivatives are resold for use in research.
      Please also note the limitations set forth under “2. Restrictions” in SCHEDULE B: Non-Commercial Use of GFP Transfer License Agreement.
3. Please understand that every six months RIKEN BRC is obligated to provide Cytiva with a list of all institutions to which RIKEN BRC has transferred GFP bioresources and copies of SCHEDULE A.
   

If you have developed your own GFP bioresources, we hope you will consider depositing them with RIKEN BRC. Such deposits will be a significant contribution to the promotion of related research and the creation and protection of relevant intellectual property. In addition, deposition will free you from time consuming preparation and distribution of GFP bioresources to fellow researchers. GFP Bioresources deposited with RIKEN BRC will be carefully preserved and maintained so that we may meet the needs of researchers around the world.

For questions regarding specific resources, please contact the appropriate division:

If you have any questions regarding the contract with Cytiva, please contact Kusayama at Center Director Office, RIKEN BRC (tsukuba-mta@ml.riken.jp).

GFP bioresource list

• Experimental Animal Division (mouse strains)
• Experimental Plant Division (Arabidopsis seeds, Tobacco cultured cells)
• Cell Engineering Division (human and animal cell lines)
• Gene Engineering Division (gene clones etc.)