The Investigator’s Annexe Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Working directly with scientists and researchers in major research institutions worldwide, KeraFAST offers an extensive and growing portfolio of novel materials and reagents for life science research, brought together for the very first time and not available elsewhere. Come and take a look at what your colleagues have to offer. It may be just what you are looking for.

The Investigator's Annexe Limited License Agreement

How can I find and order products in The Investigator’s Annexe?

Search for products by keyword, by the application you’re using in the lab, or simply browse our collection. New products are being added every week as more scientists sign up to offer their reagents and tools, so be sure to come back often.

When you’re ready to order something you need from The Investigator’s Annexe, simply add the item to your shopping cart, together with any other KeraFAST products, and proceed to checkout. When you’ve placed your order, your items will be on their way to you.

 

What are my intellectual property rights?

All research tools offered in The Investigator’s Annexe have been approved for sale to academic and industrial researchers by the Technology Transfer Offices of the institutions of the offering investigators. KeraFAST has worked with these offices to streamline all required intellectual property documentation to provide a simple checkout process for our customers. Just click the box at checkout agreeing to our simple and uniform limited license agreement and your materials will be quickly on their way to you. The only permitted use under the licenses and agreements with the institutions is For Research Use Only and does not convey any Commercial rights or rights to therapeutics, clinical diagnostics or other uses retained by the institutions. See our 'click-through' license.

 

What quality can I expect from materials in The Investigator's Annexe?

The quality and integrity of science has relied on the peer review process and the integrity of scientists since the dawn of the experimental age. The tools offered in The Investigator’s Annexe are akin to those materials that investigators have been exchanging collegially since the very first inter-laboratory collaboration. As you would provide only the highest quality materials from your laboratory to your research collaborators, so too is the spirit in which these tools are offered ‘as is’ in The Investigator’s Annexe. You are more than welcome to reach out to the offering laboratories about their materials. Who knows, it could be the start of a rewarding new collaboration!

 

Why aren't these materials free?

These tools have value, having been developed through the hard work of the offering investigators and their post-docs and students under their hard-earned grants. They are assets of the institutions where the investigators conduct their research. NIH requires new tools to be made ‘widely available’ but this includes through “unrestricted sale,” which is our intent. (See NIH Guidelines: Principles and Guidelines for Recipients of NIH Research Grants and Contracts on Obtaining and Disseminating Biomedical Research Resources: Final Notice).

KeraFAST works hard to make these materials widely available as affordable products that otherwise would not be, products that now can be quickly and efficiently found by you and acquired for your research. The proceeds from the sale of tools in The Investigator’s Annexe are shared with the investigator and his or her institution.

 

When will my order ship?

The research labs from which these materials originate from will ship your materials as soon as they can. In general, products are shipped within a week, but on occasion shipments may be delayed. In the event that a product will be delayed, we will do the best we can to notify you and let you know when to expect delivery. Please contact customerservice@kerafast.com to check the status of an order.

 

How can I join the ever-growing community of researchers offering tools through The Investigator's Annexe?

Offering new materials to the research community through The Investigators Annexe begins with a dialog with both you, the investigator/tool inventor, and your technology transfer office or intellectual property manager. (see Join The Investigator's Annexe)

We ask questions such as, what is your research tool, how was it derived, has it been published, is it patented and so on. We also need to know how much of the material exists, where and how it is stored, and how it will be shipped to our customers. We also will agree on the documentation (i.e. our simple Limited License Agreement language) to be subscribed to by KeraFAST’s customers to permit sales through the KeraFAST website.

Initially, KeraFAST will not inventory your tools offsite from your laboratory. Customer requests will be satisfied from materials stored in your laboratory. Later, if demand builds, KeraFAST will internalize the production of your materials.

Compensation for your tools is a straightforward revenue-sharing formula that takes into account your institution’s royalty-sharing policies and how much you participate in assisting KeraFAST in fulfilling customer orders.

Do you have tools you would like to offer to the research community? Let us know at TheInvestigatorsAnnexe@kerafast.com.

 

If I join The Investigator's Annexe, can I include materials produced with federal grant dollars?

NIH requires new tools to be made ‘widely available’ but this includes through “unrestricted sale,” which is our intent. (See NIH Guidelines: Principles and Guidelines for Recipients of NIH Research Grants and Contracts on Obtaining and Disseminating Biomedical Research Resources: Final Notice).

 

I can't find the product I'm looking for. When are new products offered through The Investigator's Annexe?

Be sure to visit The Investigator’s Annexe often to see what’s new. We are continuing to add new laboratories to our collaborative community every week. Or drop us a line regarding a specific material you are seeking at TheInvestigatorsAnnexe@kerafast.com.