A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a written agreement that outlines roles, responsibilities, and collaboration terms between parties involved in research activities.
MOUs are often used to define how institutions, departments, or partners will coordinate support functions such as recruitment, data access, specimen handling, or shared resources. While typically less detailed than a contract, an MOU helps formalize accountability and expectations that reduce operational ambiguity. In regulated research, a well-structured MOU supports oversight by documenting who is responsible for key study tasks and how coordination will be managed. Clear MOUs strengthen governance, support audit readiness, and help prevent gaps in delegated responsibilities.