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Disclaimer of Endorsement

Last Update Date: 11/24/21

The Common Fund Data Ecosystem Coordination Center (“CFDE-CC”) comprises partnered institutions supported by the NIH Common Fund under Award Numbers 1OT3OD025459-01 and OTA-20-005 as part of the Common Fund’s Common Fund Data Ecosystem (“CFDE”). All content, terms and conditions, and policies associated with the CFDE Portal and Website (the “Services”) are produced by the CFDE-CC. The views and opinions of authors expressed on the Services do not necessarily state or reflect those of the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) or the U.S. government. Furthermore, the NIH does not endorse or promote any CFDE entity or any of its products or services nor guarantees the products, services, or information provided by the CFDE.

Terms & Conditions

Last Update Date: 11/24/21

As a user of the Services you agree that you are 13 years of age or older, and furthermore agree to the Terms and Conditions of Services defined herein and where applicable the terms defined by the NIH Genomic Data User Code of Conduct. These terms include, but are not limited to:

  • You will request controlled-access datasets solely in connection with the research project described in an approved Data Access Request for each dataset;
  • You will make no attempt to identify or contact individual participants or groups from whom data were collected, or generate information that could allow participants’ identities to be readily ascertained;
  • You will not distribute controlled-access datasets to any entity or individual beyond those specified in an approved Data Access Request;
  • You will adhere to computer security practices in compliance with NIH Security Best Practices for Controlled-Access Data such that only authorized individuals possess access to data files;
  • You acknowledge Intellectual Property Policies should they exist as specified in a dataset’s associated Data Use Certification; and,
  • You will report any inadvertent data release in accordance with the terms in the Data Use Certification, breach of data security, or other data management incidents contrary to the terms of data access.

CFDE terms and conditions may be changed at any time via a public posting of revisions to the Services. As a user, you agree to review the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies each time you use the Services so that you are aware of any modifications made to these policies. By accessing or using the Services, you agree with and to be bound by all of the terms and conditions and policies as posted on the Services at the time of your access or use, including the Privacy Policies then in effect.

For documents and/or data available from the Services, the CFDE does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process. No specific medical advice is provided by any Services, and the CFDE urges users of Services to consult with a qualified physician for diagnosis and answers to personal questions.

For more information about the NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy and applying for Controlled-Access Data through dbGaP visit: NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy and dbGaP Request Procedures to Access Individual-Level Data

If you have any questions about these terms, conditions or the practices of this site or any of the other Services, please contact us at [email protected].

Privacy Policy

Last Update Date: 11/24/21

The Common Fund Data Ecosystem Coordination Center (“CFDE-CC” or “we”) has created this Privacy Policy to demonstrate its commitment to privacy and transparency of practices. This Privacy Policy explains the CFDE’s information-gathering and dissemination practices for the CFDE Website and CFDE Portal (the “Services”). By accessing the Services, you consent to the practices and terms of this Privacy Policy. Limited data is collected about your visit to any of our Services in order to help us better understand public use of the sites and to improve and continue to make our Services more useful to visitors. This page describes the information that is automatically collected and stored.

Information the CFDE Collects

“Personal Information” means any information that can be used to identify you, directly or indirectly, as an individual person. The CFDE collects Personal Information when you visit any of the Services, send CFDE an email, respond to a survey, provide online feedback, register for the CFDE Portal, subscribe to one of the CFDE’s online publications or email newsletters, or otherwise communicate with us. The CFDE also collects information, such as anonymous usage statistics, by using cookies, server logs, and other similar technology as you use the Services.

Information Provided by You

The CFDE collects Personal Information that you enter through the Services or give to the CFDE in another way. For example:

When you access the Services, the CFDE may collect:

  • contact information, such as your name, email address, mailing address, and telephone number
  • employment-related information, such as employer, department, job title and business contact information
  • account information, such as account name, password, security question responses, and a unique identification number
  • product interest information, including favorites and areas of interest

When you fill out a survey, the CFDE collects, depending on the survey:

  • satisfaction with an event or course, product usage, and product satisfaction
  • other information in response to solicited questions, as you voluntarily contribute

Information the CFDE Obtains from Third Party Sources

The CFDE collects Personal Information about individuals from a number of third-party sources.

  • Business Partners and Service Providers: Our business partners and service providers, such as contacts database and website hosting providers, collect Personal Information and share some or all of this information with us.

  • Single Sign-On: When the CFDE allow you to register and login to the Services through a third-party platform, the CFDE collects information from the third-party platform permitted under the settings and privacy policy of that platform.

  • Publicly Available Sources: The CFDE collects Personal Information about you that the CFDE does not otherwise have (including contact information, employment-related information and product interest information) from social media platforms (for example, LinkedIn), and other publicly available databases.

Information the CFDE Collects Automatically

Log File Data

The Services collect domain names of site visitors, as well as aggregate information about site traffic and server load. Additional processes store IP addresses, browser information, location, and device statistics of visitors for auditing and security purposes. This information is used strictly to maintain and improve the Services.

Cookies

The Services use “cookies” during site visits. The “cookie,” which is a small text file stored in temporary memory, is used by our Web applications for usability purposes and to comply with subscription and settings preferences that our visitors have given us. The Services also uses “cookies” on a limited basis to measure user interactions with the Services through Google Analytics. You can turn off cookies in your browser preferences at any time without affecting site performance, if you wish to do so.

Online Comment Forms

Please note that the CFDE will not intentionally share the contents of any email feedback or comment form with any party. However, due to the nature of electronic communications, the CFDE cannot and does not provide any assurances that the contents of your e-mail will not become known or accessible to third parties.

You are urged not to provide any confidential information about you, your health, or other patients’ health via electronic communication. If you do so, it is at your own risk.

How the CFDE Uses Your Information

The CFDE uses information, including Personal Information, for internal and service-related purposes. The CFDE may use and retain any data that it collects to provide and improve any of the Services. The CFDE may send email to the email address you provide to it for sending you email for informational and operational purposes, such as account management, customer service, system maintenance, and other Services-related purposes. The CFDE may use information, including Personal Information, to show or send you information that it thinks may be useful or relevant to you. The CFDE may anonymize or aggregate data collected through the Services and use and disclose it for any purpose.

How the CFDE Shares Your Information

Only members of the CFDE staff, its approved contractors, and its approved vendors have access to the data collected by the Services. The CFDE may share information with its third-party vendors and service providers, to comply with legal obligations, to protect and defend our rights and property, and with your permission. The CFDE may share any information it receives with vendors and service providers it uses to help provide and improve the Services. For example, the CFDE may disclose information to the service providers that help host the Services or send its emails.

The CFDE may allow access to data collected by the Services to send you information the CFDE thinks may be useful or relevant to you.

The CFDE may access, preserve, and disclose collected information, if it believes doing so is required or appropriate to: comply with law enforcement requests and legal process, such as a court order or subpoena; respond to your requests; comply with the law; or protect your, our, or others’ rights, property, or safety.

If the CFDE is involved in a transition of service to another provider, your information may be disclosed in connection with the negotiation of such transaction, and/or transferred as part of such a transaction as permitted by law and/or contract. The CFDE cannot control how the recipient entities may use or disclose such information.

Children’s Privacy

The CFDE is committed to protecting the privacy of children. The Services are intended for adults and young adults ages 13 and over. It is not intended for or designed to attract persons under the age of 13. Registration by any person to be under the age of 13 is not permitted and no part of the Services are directed to children under 13. If the CFDE learns that a child under 13 has created an account, the CFDE will promptly take steps to delete such information and terminate the child’s account.

Other Sites

Our privacy policies apply only to your use of the Services. The Services contain links and integrations to other sites, including sites that may indicate relationships or collaborations with the CFDE. At times, in support of technical integrations, you may be required to provide your email address and name to third parties to fully use and/or access all Services. The CFDE is not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. You should read and review the privacy policies of each site you visit to determine what information that site may be collecting about you. Below are the privacy policies for the third-party websites & services that the Services currently integrate with:

  • Google: Users have the option to integrate their CFDE Portal login with Google to allow users to “login with Google.” The Services will access your basic profile information including your name and email address. You may visit Google’s privacy policy here: https://policies.google.com/privacy

  • Orcid: Users have the option to integrate their CFDE Portal login with Orcid to allow users to “login with Orcid.” The Services will access your basic profile information including your name and email address. You may visit Orcid’s privacy policy here: https://orcid.org/footer/privacy-policy

  • Globus: Users with an existing login at any of the many universities, colleges, research institutions, identity providers and government agencies supported by Globus may use one of these logins to access the CFDE Portal. Please consult your individual institution’s privacy policy and the Globus privacy policy, which you may visit here: https://www.globus.org/legal/privacy

  • Google Analytics: The Services use Google Analytics to monitor user interaction and use of the sites. See Log File Data above for information on what is collected with Google Analytics. You may visit Google’s privacy policy here: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Passwords and Tokens

You are responsible for taking all reasonable steps to ensure that no unauthorized person shall have access to your CFDE passwords, accounts, or security tokens. It is your sole responsibility to (1) control the dissemination and use of activation codes and passwords; (2) authorize, monitor, and control access to and use of your CFDE account and password; (3) promptly inform us of any need to deactivate a password or token. You grant to the CFDE and to all other persons or entities involved in the operation of the Services the right to transmit, monitor, retrieve, store, and use your information in connection with the operation of the Services. The CFDE cannot and does not assume any responsibility or liability for any information you submit, or you or third parties use, or misuse of information transmitted or received using the CFDE tools and services.

Changes to Our Privacy Policy

Just as with the other terms and conditions associated with the Services, the CFDE may change the terms and conditions of its Privacy Policy at any time by posting revisions on the Services. You agree to review the Privacy Policy each time you use the Services so that you are aware of any modifications made to these policies. By accessing or using the Services, you agree to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement as posted on the Services at the time of your access or use, including the Privacy Policy then in effect.

Disclaimer of Liability

Last Update Date: 11/24/21

For documents and/or data available from or provided by any Services, the CFDE and its members do not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process provided. Furthermore, no specific medical advice is intended or provided by any of the Services, and where applicable users are urged to consult with a qualified physician for diagnosis and answers to any personal questions.

Contact Information

If you have any questions about these privacy policies or the practices of this site, please contact us at [email protected]

CFDE Cookie Policy

Last Update Date: 11/24/21

Cookies & Similar Technologies

The CFDE Coordination Center (“CFDE-CC”) and our affiliates (collectively, “CFDE”) uses cookies (small text files placed on your device) and similar technologies to provide its websites and online services and to help collect data. Cookies allow it, among other things, to store your preferences and settings; enable you to sign-in; combat fraud; and analyze how our platform is performing.

The CFDE also uses web beacons to help deliver cookies and gather usage and performance data.

These small data files or graphic files serve various functions:

Strictly Necessary: Necessary to deliver our services (for example, essential cookies); Performance and Functionality: Enhance the performance and functionality of our services but are non-essential to their use (for example, performance and functionality cookies); Analytics and Customization: Allow us to understand the effectiveness of our services, as well as to customize our services based on this information (for example, customization cookies and analytical web beacons); and

How can you control cookies and similar technologies?

Browser Controls: Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings. For more information about how to reject, disable or delete cookies, please review your browser’s help menu or visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org. If you choose to reject cookies, you may not be able to take advantage of certain features, services, applications or tools available through the Services that are only available through the use of these technologies.

You can control the use of certain cookies and related technologies by:

Opting out of targeted online advertising through advertising networks (please visit http://www.aboutads.info/choices/,http://optout.networkadvertising.org/?c=1#!/ or http://www.youronlinechoices.com for more information); Setting or amending your web browser controls to accept or refuse cookies (please visit your browser’s help menu for more information).

If you choose to reject certain cookies, you may still use our websites and online services, though your access to some functionality and features may be restricted. If you have any questions regarding our use of cookies and other related technologies, please contact us at [email protected].