Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions, Version 2.0, 11 April 2025

These Terms & Conditions cover all use of the Biosample Hub platform and services.

 

1. Introduction

We thank you for visiting Biosample Hub. We think you will find our site easy to use and a valuable and incisive resource but we always strive to make improvements where possible. We are good listeners and positively welcome any feedback or comments that you may wish to share with us – do let us know what you think by leaving a message on our Contact Us page. If you are unclear about any of these terms please let us know and we will do our best to clarify matters.

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2. Our Philosophy

Our philosophy is very simple. We believe that free communication between the requester and provider of biosamples is vital for a variety of practical, ethical and scientific reasons. Foremost amongst these is the need for biosample traceability which ensures that providers can fulfil their responsibilities as custodians and are aware of the eventual destination samples and the purpose for which they will be used. We also believe that human tissue should be acquired and supplied through non-commercial procedures and for this reason, Biosample Hub has been established as a not-for-profit company and offering full financial transparency to users.

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3. Site Operation

This  site  is  operated  by Biosample Hub (“Biosample Hub”, “we”, “our” or “us”). Biosample Hub is registered in England and Wales under company number 125147786 and its registered office is at The Old School, The Quay, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, SA31 3LN. We are a private ‘not for profit’ company, limited by guarantee, without share capital. We have exemption from use of ‘Limited’ in our title.

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4. Acceptance of Terms & Conditions

These general Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) are an agreement (“Agreement”) between you and us and covers your use of our site including use of its information, data and services provided and made available through Biosample Hub’s website (the “Website”, “site”). By using the Website, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms and Conditions, you must not use our site. You also confirm your acceptance and choices in our Cookie Policy.

Can we draw your attention to the indemnity that you provide under “Disclaimer & Liability” below as consequence of your use or alleged misconduct in your use of the Website.

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5. Changes to Terms & Conditions

Biosample Hub reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. When visiting this site please check for any amendments since your last visit as to your use of the Website. Your continued use of the Website is confirmation by you of your acceptance of any amendments to the Terms and your agreement to comply with them.

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6. Disclaimer & Liability

6.1 Third-Party Opinions

Biosample Hub does not endorse or adopt the views and opinions expressed by any group or individual on this site, unless we explicitly say otherwise. Subject to applicable law, contributors are free to share their own opinions, which may differ from those of Biosample Hub.

6.2 Directory Listings (Biobanks and Companies)

Biosample Hub does not endorse or recommend any biobank or company listed in our directory. These listings are provided for informational purposes only, and we make no representations or guarantees about the quality, reliability, or suitability of any listed biobank or company or their products and services. Information about biobanks and companies is based on data provided by those organizations or on publicly available information, and we do not independently verify its accuracy.

Users are solely responsible for verifying the information provided and determining whether a listed biobank or company meets their needs. We strongly encourage you to conduct independent research and exercise due diligence before engaging with any biobank or company from our directory. Biosample Hub will not be liable for any issues or disputes that arise from interactions between users and any listed biobank or company.

6.3 Website Content and Accuracy

All content on this Website is provided for general informational purposes only. While we strive to keep information up to date, we do not guarantee that any content is free of errors or omissions, or that it is accurate, complete, or current. You should not rely on the content on this site as the sole basis for making decisions or taking action, and any decisions you make based on the information are AT YOUR OWN RISK. The Website and its content are provided “as is” and “as available,” without any warranty (express or implied). We reserve the right to modify, update, or remove content on the site at any time without notice, and we are not responsible for any consequences if the Website (or any part of it) is changed, temporarily unavailable, or discontinued.

6.4 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Biosample Hub will not be liable to you for any loss or damage arising from your use of the Website or your reliance on any content. This exclusion of liability applies regardless of the cause of the loss or damage. It includes, WITHOUT LIMITATION, any indirect or consequential loss or damage, as well as any loss of profits, business, revenue, anticipated savings, business opportunity, goodwill, or reputation, or any business interruption.

6.5 Indemnification

You agree to INDEMNIFY, DEFEND, AND HOLD HARMLESS Biosample Hub and its officers, employees, and agents from any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, expenses, or costs (including reasonable legal fees) that are asserted by any third party and arise out of your use of the Website or any alleged misconduct in your use of the Website. This means you will compensate and defend Biosample Hub and its personnel if any third-party claim is brought against us due to your actions or use of the site.

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7. No Guarantee of Sample Availability

While we strive to provide a comprehensive platform for connecting requesters and providers of biosamples, we cannot guarantee that users will find the specific samples they are searching for through our services. Availability of biosamples is dependent on various factors beyond our control, including the participation of providers and the current inventory of samples. Therefore, Biosample Hub makes no warranties or representations, express or implied, regarding the availability, quantity, or suitability of biosamples listed on our platform.

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8. Copyright Restrictions

Biosample Hub is the owner of  all intellectual property rights in this site, and in the material published on it.

Should you wish to use any content on our site for commercial purposes you must contact us and obtain a licence to do so from us or our licensors.

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9. Links to Other Websites

The Website contains links to and content from other internet sites and resources. We have no control over such content and you agree that, without limitation, Biosample Hub is not responsible for such content. We can not endorse products or services offered by third parties through such content.

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10. Restrictions on Your Use of the Site

You must not misuse our site by knowingly introducing any material that contains viruses, Trojan horses, worms, logic bombs, time-bombs, keystroke loggers, spyware, adware or other harmful programs or material that is malicious or technologically harmful. You must not attempt to gain unauthorized access to our site, the server on which our site is stored or any server, computer or database connected to our site. You must not attack our site via a denial-of-service  attack  or  a  distributed  denial-of-service attached.

Please be aware that by breaching this provision, you would commit a criminal offence under the Computer  Misuse Act 1990. We  will report any breach to the relevant law enforcement authorities and we will co- operate with those authorities by disclosing your identity to them. In the event of such a breach, your right to use our site will cease immediately.

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11. Sponsors to Biosample Hub

Sponsors are subject to the same disclaimers and limitations of liability, including jurisdiction, and as to indemnity to Biosample Hub for any breaches, as are applied to others users of the Biosample Hub platform. In particular Sponsors must ensure that any representations they make on the platform are accurate and fair and not exaggerated or misleading.

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12. Newsletter Subscribers

Biosample Hub is not liable for any loss or damage, howsoever arising, from subscribers use of or reliance upon contents in the newsletters and makes no warranty as to its accuracy and completeness of information. Subscribers must carry out their own due diligence before placing any reliance on any information or contents provided.  All disclaimers and limitations of liability, including jurisdiction, as applied to users of the Biosample Hub platform apply equally to subscribers of the platform’s newsletter.

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13. Other important terms

13.1 Special Terms for Specific Website Features

Certain features or items on the Website may have special terms of use. You should read these feature-specific terms carefully on their respective pages, as they are considered part of these Terms and Conditions (as if fully set out herein).

13.2 Rights to Use Submitted Information

By submitting information to the Website, you agree that we have a full and irrevocable right to use that information. We will, however, protect any of your data that requires confidentiality or is not intended to be shared publicly.

13.3 Privacy and Data Protection

We manage and protect your personal data in accordance with the GDPR and other relevant laws. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for details on how we handle your data.

13.4 Severability

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in a particular jurisdiction, that provision will be severed (removed) for that jurisdiction. The illegality or unenforceability of that provision will not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions, which will continue in full force and effect.

13.5 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions (including any disputes or claims arising out of or related to them, whether contractual or non-contractual) are governed by English law. The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute or legal proceeding related to these Terms. This includes any obligations to mediate or engage in alternative dispute resolution before court proceedings, if applicable at the time a dispute arises.

13.6 Contact Us for Clarification

If you have any questions or need clarification about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us through our Contact Us page.