Privacy Policy

Effective January 7, 2020

Introduction

This Privacy Policy (“Privacy Policy”) describes how Unite Genomics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its affiliates (“Unite Genomics,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), collect, use, and disclose “personal information” in connection with our Website and Services (each as defined below). We collect information from the people who visit our website (collectively, “you,” “your”) with a homepage located at www.unitegenomics.com (the “Website”) or use our services related to the analysis of health and genomic data, including to create a user account (“Account”) with us (each, a “User”), and contact our Users’ health care providers and others to authorize the disclosure of their health information to researchers and others, and to view, change, and manage those authorizations and access requests (together the “Services”).  

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully to understand how we collect, process, share, or otherwise handle information that you and others provide us through our Website or our Services, as well as how you can control and manage the information Unite Genomics maintains about you through your Account (“Account Information”). This Privacy Policy is subject to Unite Genomics’ Terms of Use.  The current version of the Terms of Use is available at www.unitegenomics.com/terms-of-use. 

Personal Information Collected

“Personal information” is information that identifies, relates to, describes, is capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, to a particular individual or household, which may include without limitation information about your physical or mental health or condition. “Personal information” we obtain includes information that Users provide to us; information that is provided to us by health care providers, researchers, and others who Users authorize to share information with us; and technical information collected by us and by third parties about Users’ and visitors’ use of our Website and Services.

Information You Provide to Us

We collect information about you that you provide to us, for example, by sending us a message or by contacting us directly. We also collect information from Users upon registering for an Account. To register for an Account, you must provide your name and email address and create a password. You may also choose to provide additional contact information, such as your address and phone number.

We collect personal information from Users through their use of the Unite Genomics Patient Portal (“Patient Portal”).  Through the Patient Portal, Users may submit their gender, age and birth date, weight, height, treatment and diagnosis information, health and well-being related information, and may complete a number of surveys that provide baseline, activity, lifestyle, health care, family history, nutrition habits, exposure to environmental risk factors, and related information to us.  In addition, you may decide to share with us personal information from devices such as blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, and fitness tracker devices. We also collect cheek swab samples from Users that have received and returned our DNA kits, and process genomic information derived from those samples if that User’s genome is sequenced as part of a research study.

Information Collected From Third Parties

We collect personal information about Users when they authorize third parties to provide it to us. Through each User’s Account, a User may authorize health care providers, researchers, and others to share personal information about the User with us. This information typically includes measurements and assertions (lab data, device measurements, clinical assessment tool scores, etc.), diagnoses, conditions, problems, procedures, family history, detected issues (drug-drug interactions, duplicate therapies, etc.), imaging results (x-ray, CT, MRI, etc.), medications and administrations, questionnaire responses (social history, patient intake forms, research questionnaires and case report forms, etc.), records of samples taken, diagnostic reports, and allergies, and other information of this kind. We hold, use, and disclose this personal information subject to this Privacy Policy. In addition, we collect personal information from certain service providers we have engaged to provide services to us, which may include customer support services.

Technical Information Collected From Use of the Website and Services

We and third parties automatically receive and store technical information whenever you interact with the Website, including information about your use of our Website such as the features of the Website that you use and how you use them, your Internet domain and IP address, type of browser and operating system, referring and exit pages, date and time of visit, and clickstream information. We automatically collect this information on your Website activity on our server logs. We may combine any information that we collect, including technical information, with the personal information that you choose to provide to us.

We may also work with third parties that collect data about your use of the Site and other websites or apps over time for non-advertising purposes.  Among these third parties, we may use Google to improve the performance of the Site and for analytics and marketing purposes.  For more information about how Google Analytics collects and uses data when you use our Site, visit https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/, and to opt out of Google Analytics, visit https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/.

We may use this information, alone or in combination with other personal information such as your email address, to provide personalized features and functionality, including for example to provide reminders and information about opportunities to share your information for research. We may also use this data to help us understand how you and other Users use parts of the Website and/or our Services so that we can improve them. We may disclose aggregated statistical information to third parties about how the Website and/or our Services are used.

Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to assist in collecting information about usage of the Website and to help us remember you and your preferences when you revisit the Website.

Uses of Information

We may use information we collect to:

  • Deliver, administer and improve our Website and Services, including by providing certain of the personal information you provide (in some cases with certain identifying characteristics removed) to life sciences research organizations;

  • Communicate with you, answer your questions, and fulfill your requests;

  • Send you information and materials via mail and e-mail about offers, products, news, and/or research studies we think could interest you;

  • Provide customer service;

  • Improve and personalize your improving and personalizing the Website;

  • Better understand your needs;

  • Deliver announcements and updates about our Website and Services;

  • Contact you about any of the above as well as any changes to or notifications regarding your Account;

  • Comply with the law and to maintain the security of our Website or Services;

  • As otherwise disclosed at the time of collection or use; and/or

  • With your consent.

Information Sharing

We may disclose your information in the following circumstances:

  • As part of a corporate sale, merger, or acquisition, or other transfer of all or part of our assets including as part of a bankruptcy proceeding.

  • Pursuant to a subpoena, court order, governmental inquiry, or other legal process or as otherwise required by law, or to protect our rights or the rights of third parties.

  • To comply with the law, applicable regulations, governmental and quasi-governmental requests, court orders or subpoenas, to enforce our Terms of Use or other agreements, or where we deem necessary to protect our rights, property or safety or the rights, property or safety of our Users or others. 

  • With service providers, including independent companies or other third parties and individuals to help us provide, facilitate or improve our Website and Services (such as customer service, support, or data hosting).

  • With your consent or as otherwise disclosed at the time of data collection or sharing.

We may disclose aggregate, anonymous or statistical information without restriction.

Sharing of Information for Academic and Clinical Research

When you create your Account, we will ask you whether you wish to make your de-identified information available to researchers or research organizations in need of data sets. By doing this we hope to contribute to research advances and innovations in health care.  If you change your mind later and want to change your choice, you may do so at portal.unitegenomics.com/account-settings

We take measures designed to ensure that you will not be directly identifiable based on the de-identified information you may choose to make available. However, it may be possible for others to identify you if you have made your information available publicly in other ways; for example, if you post pictures or information to social media that describes you or your health condition, it may be possible for someone to correlate that with information in a Unite Genomics data set.  De-identified information will be stored and made available without any of your personal Account Information.

In addition, you may be asked when you create your Account, and from time to time after, to participate in, and/or to permit your information to be used in, academic, clinical, commercial or other research studies, either by Unite Genomics or by entities performing research. You are under no obligation to participate in any such research or permit your information to be used.  If you do agree, you may be asked to authorize us and/or your health care provider or another party to provide information they have about you, including information that identifies you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition, or to provide a unique identifier that will allow the researcher or institution to link other personal information to the information that Unite Genomics maintains about you.  Only you can agree to this linkage with other information or databases. We will not link the information in your Account for academic, clinical, commercial or other research studies without your authorization. If you agree to participate in a research study, the person or organization conducting the study may require you to sign a written consent to participate, which may include terms and conditions that are different from those of this Privacy Policy. 

Opting Out of Sharing Your Information

You may at any time request that Unite Genomics cease providing your personal information to others. You may do this through the Patient Portal at portal.unitegenomics.com/account-settings. However, please note that any opt out is forward-looking, and will not remove information from the records of the parties to whom we have disclosed that information in accordance with an authorization you have given to us.

Exporting, Deleting, or Changing Your Information

You can change the contact information you provided when you registered through your Patient Portal profile page at portal.unitegenomics.com/account-settings.

Terminating Your Account

You can terminate your Account at any time by emailing us at privacy@unitegenomics.com. Upon termination, we will delete your Account Information and other personal information.   However, terminating your Account and deleting your personal information will not remove it from the records of the parties to whom we have disclosed that information in accordance with an authorization you have given to us.

Email Communications

You can choose to stop receiving marketing or informational emails from us by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any such email. Please note, however, that you will continue to receive communications related to our transaction(s) and relationship with you.

Practices of Third Parties

Our Privacy Policy applies solely to how Unite Genomics and its affiliates collect and disclose your information.  We do not control, and therefore are not responsible for, the privacy and security practices of third parties.

Changes to Privacy Policy

We may change this Privacy Policy at any time.  We encourage you to revisit this Policy regularly to stay informed about how we collect, use, and share your information.

Questions, Comments, and Suggestions about Privacy

We welcome your questions and feedback about privacy. Please contact us at 510-408-6842 or via e-mail at privacy@unitegenomics.com.