The University of Nevada, Reno has partnered with the Boston-based reagent company Kerafast to help scientists worldwide gain access to the research tools developed in the University’s laboratories. The program streamlines the process of transferring biomaterials among different research institutions, furthering the materials’ contribution to scientific progress.

Under the program, University researchers can add their lab-made materials to Kerafast’s online catalog, where other scientists can easily access them via a simple-click license that eliminates the need for traditional Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs). Kerafast markets the materials, handles selling and shipping logistics, and returns a portion of the proceeds to the University and the contributing labs. The program aims to accelerate global scientific research, while also providing University labs with an extra stream of research funding.

Research materials from the first two University laboratories to participate in the program are now available online. Subhash Verma of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology has made available Burkitt lymphoma cell lines, useful for studying the oncogenic potential of viral antigen in causing B-cell lymphoma. In addition, Thomas Kozel of the same department has made available a monoclonal antibody for studying anthrax, a serious infectious disease and bioterrorism threat. The antibody detects poly-γ-D-glutamic acid (PGA), a component of the anthrax bacterium that is shed into blood and can be used to rapidly diagnosis the infection.

“The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to bringing the innovations and technologies developed on our campus into the marketplace for the benefit of society,” said Ellen Purpus, assistant vice president for enterprise and innovation. “Our new collaboration with Kerafast provides a streamlined path for our faculty to offer their reagents to the global research community.” Kozel noted that the collaboration streamlines efforts to make key materials developed at the University available to the global research community.

“We are excited to begin our partnership with University of Nevada, Reno,” said Amelia Gibson, Kerafast business development director. “The Kerafast mission is to advance life science research by promoting access to unique research tools, and we welcome UNR investigators into the rapidly growing community of scientists who are sharing novel materials through our program.”

A wide variety of lab-made reagents – including antibodies, proteins, cell lines, plasmids, nanoparticles, probes and more – can be made available through this program. For more information, or to discuss distribution of research tools through the program, visit the Kerafast website or contact the office of Enterprise & Innovation at innovation@unr.edu or 775-784-4421.