Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

BNERC ("we", "us", or "our") operates CyanoVault. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Platform. Please read this policy carefully. By using CyanoVault, you consent to the practices described herein.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Name, email address, institutional affiliation, and role when you create an account or submit a request
• Strain Requests: Research purpose, institutional details, biosafety compliance information, and shipping details
• Contact Information: Name, email, and message content when you contact us
• Communication Preferences: Your marketing and newsletter subscription choices

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, search queries, and interaction patterns
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type, and screen resolution
• Log Data: IP address, access times, referring URLs, and server logs
• Cookies: Session cookies and preference cookies to enhance your experience

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the Platform
• Process strain requests and facilitate material transfers
• Respond to inquiries and provide customer support
• Send administrative communications about your account or requests
• Send marketing communications (only with your consent, which you can withdraw at any time)
• Analyze usage patterns to improve our services
• Ensure compliance with biosafety and regulatory requirements
• Detect and prevent fraud or unauthorized access

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: With trusted third-party services that help us operate the Platform (e.g., email delivery, hosting, analytics)
• Institutional Partners: With partner institutions when processing strain requests, subject to Material Transfer Agreements
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, regulation, or legal process
• Safety: To protect the rights, property, or safety of CyanoVault, our users, or the public

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encryption in transit (TLS/SSL), secure database storage, access controls, and regular security assessments. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Strain request records may be retained longer to comply with biosafety and regulatory requirements.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements
• Opt-out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time
• Data Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us through our Contact page.

8. Cookies

We use essential cookies to ensure the Platform functions correctly, including session management and theme preferences. We may also use analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with the Platform. You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences.

9. Third-Party Links

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access through our Platform.

10. Children's Privacy

CyanoVault is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us so we can promptly delete it.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please reach out through our Contact page.