Privacy Policy
The Disease X knowledge base (DXKB) is provided as a public resource for the research community. This Privacy Policy describes the ways DXKB collects, stores, uses, discloses and protects the personal information about users and how they use DXKB. DXKB never collects information for commercial marketing or any purpose unrelated to DXKB functions.
Information DXKB collects
Many functions of DXKB, such as data browsing, may be used without a DXKB User Account. DXKB uses Google Analytics to accumulate this type of web traffic information in order to measure and report overall usage of the website portion of the resource. More information can be found in Google Analytics data practices.
If you choose to have a DXKB User Account, you are asked to provide your name and an email address so that we may contact you if needed, for instance, if there is a problem with your account. This information is stored in your private personal profile. You are also required to provide a username, which is used for logging in and appears along with data that you choose to share. DXKB usernames are not treated as personal information, and it is recommended that you not include personal information in your username.
User-provided personal information and data
You may at your discretion also provide in your personal profile further biographical information including your organization, organisms of interest, and other research interests. This information may be used in aggregate to understand the DXKB userbase in order to improve the resource.
DXKB does not track information in your personal research data. Access to this information is strictly under your control to share or make public. If you are having problems with your data in the private workspace or in using DXKB services and you request our help, we may access your workspace and data files to troubleshoot and help resolve the problem for you.
Once you share data or workspaces with others DXKB users or make it public, be aware that other users will be able to access the data. You can turn off the sharing at a later time if you desire.
User behavioral profile
When you use DXKB services that require login (such as Genome Annotation), usage information is automatically recorded by your Username including what services you used, time of submission, service input parameters, and input/output file locations.
How information collected by DXKB is used
Private personal information such as email address is only accessible to DXKB staff and will only be used individually in the event we need to contact you. If you choose to provide that information to DXKB independently (for example when emailing to request help), again it will only be used by DXKB staff for the purpose of responding. DXKB will produce project reports that include aggregate information such as the number of help requests, statistics on the topics of requests and resolutions. Additionally, the ways users interact with the system are analyzed when errors occur and in aggregate for analysis of DXKB operation and improvement.
Aggregated usage information based on user behavior is used by DXKB to produce overall statistics such as to show users which services are most popular. Usage information is also used by DXKB for internal purposes such as to manage and improve capabilities and services, the website and related features and content, and to enable users to easily and productively navigate the website and utilize DXKB capabilities for research benefit.
Information DXKB discloses
DXKB is committed to maintaining the confidentiality, integrity and security of users’ personal private information and data. Usage information may be used in aggregate for reporting to our funding sponsor, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation, for the purpose of evaluating the performance of the overall project. Aggregate usage information is also used in presentations and reported publicly through the Performance and Usage Metrics, available from the About DXKB page on the DXKB website. No individually identifiable information is reported or disclosed.
Relationship to BV-BRC
DXKB uses a backend database, service, and website architecture that has been developed by the Bacterial and Viral Bioinformatics Resource Center Project (BV-BRC). BV-BRC shares the same privacy policy as DXKB. Communication and aggregation of usage data, as described above may also occur in accordance with the BV-BRC privacy policy and be used for reporting aggregate usage metrics for the BV-BRC sponsor, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
How information DXKB collects is protected
DXKB restricts access to nonpublic, personal information to those staff and service providers involved in administering and srvicing user accounts. Physical, electronic and procedural safeguards are in place that comply with Federal standards to protect such information.
Changes to this policy
This DXKB Privacy Policy may change from time to time. Your rights under this policy will not be reduced without your explicit consent. Changes will be posted on this page, and if significant, will be provided more prominently via email or notification when you sign in.
Users may at any time review, update, correct or delete the personal information in their profiles by signing in to their DXKB account and using the edit or remove functions available from their personal profile page.