WEBSITE PRIVACY POLICY

Last updated: March 15, 2022
PLEASE READ THIS POLICY CAREFULLY TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE TREAT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION AND YOUR CHOICES AND RIGHTS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS POLICY, YOU SHOULD NOT ACCESS OR USE THE SITE.

THE SITE IS INTENDED FOR USERS LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR USERS LOCATED IN OTHER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA.
INTRODUCTION
Coastal Carolina Research Center (also referred to herein as “we,” “us,” and “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of the personal information we collect, use, share, and otherwise process as part of our business. We also believe in transparency, and we are committed to informing you about how we treat the data we collect and process.
This Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) describes our practices regarding your personal information when you visit our website, www.coastalcarolinaresearch.com, (the “Site”). This Policy does not apply to any Protected Health Information or enrollment in a clinical trial, including your signature to any informed consent thereto. When we process personal information on behalf of a research sponsor, we adhere to the standards set forth in our contract with them.
WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?
We collect the following information for the purposes described in the “How Do We Use and Share Your Information?” section of this Policy.
CategoryDescription
Contact InformationWhen you visit our Site or contact us, we may collect or receive your name, address, email address, telephone number, or company name.
Study InquiryIf you submit a form to join a study, we may collect your name, address, email address, telephone number, and any message you choose to provide. Information obtained through your healthcare provider is subject to other privacy policies and controls.
Communications and InquiriesIf you contact us via the Site, in addition to your Contact Information, we will receive any comments, content, or other information that you choose to provide.
Cookies and Similar TechnologiesThe Site uses cookies and similar technologies. Please see the “Cookies and Similar Technologies” section of this Policy for more information.
Usage DataWhen you visit the Site or use our platform, we automatically collect information from your browser or device, which includes the date and time of access, your location, your Internet Protocol (IP) address or unique device identifier, your device type, your operating system, your browser type, and information about what pages you visit.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

First and Third-Party Cookies
A “cookie” is a small file created by a web server that can be stored on your device (if you allow) for use either during a particular browsing session (a “session” cookie) or a future browsing session (a “persistent” or “permanent” cookie). “Session” cookies are temporarily stored on your hard drive and only last until they expire at the end of your browsing session. “Persistent” or “permanent” cookies remain stored on your hard drive until they expire or are deleted by you. Local shared objects (or “flash” cookies) are used to collect and store information about your preferences and navigation to, from, and on a website. First-party cookies are set by the website you’re visiting, and they can only be read by that site. Third-party cookies are set by a party other than that website.
Other Similar Technologies
In addition to cookies, there are other automatic data collection technologies, such as Internet tags, web beacons (clear gifs, pixel tags, and single-pixel gifs), and navigational data collection (log files, server logs, etc.) that can be used to collect data as users navigate through and interact with a website. For example, web beacons are tiny graphics with unique identifiers that are used to understand browsing activity. In addition, UTM codes are strings that can appear in a URL when you move from one web page or website to another. The string can represent information about browsing, such as which advertisement, page, or publisher sent the user to the receiving website.
What Cookies and Similar Technologies Are in Use and Why Do We Use Them?
We use first-party and third-party cookies and similar technologies for purposes such as to improve Site functionality, to measure and track how users interact with the Site and perform similar analytics, to track ad-driven activity on the Site, and to otherwise tailor our communications with you.
Other Third-Party Technologies
Some third parties may use automated data collection technologies to collect information about you when you browse the Internet. The information they collect about your online browsing activities over time and across different websites and other online services may be associated with your personal information and used to provide you with targeted content. We do not control these third parties’ technologies or how they may be used. If you have any questions about targeted content, you should contact the responsible party directly or consult their privacy policies.
Choices About Cookies
Most web browsers are set by default to accept cookies. If you do not wish to receive cookies, you may set your browser to refuse all or some types of cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent by website tracking technologies and advertising. These settings may affect your enjoyment of the full functionality of the Site. In addition, adjusting the cookie settings may not fully delete all of the cookies that have already been created. To delete them, visit your web browser settings after you have changed your cookie settings. Additional information is provided below about how to disable cookies or manage the cookie settings for some of the leading web browsers:

Google Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en


Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enable-and-disable-cookies-website-preferences


Internet Explorer: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-vista/Block-or-allow-cookies


Safari: https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/manage-cookies-and-website-data-sfri11471/mac and https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265


To learn how you can manage your Flash cookie settings, visit the Flash player settings page on Adobe’s website at:  https://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/help09.html. For more information about how to modify your browser settings to block or filter cookies, visit http://www.aboutcookies.org/. You may learn more about internet advertising practices and related consumer resources at http://www.aboutads.info/consumers/ or http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices.
HOW DO WE USE AND SHARE YOUR INFORMATION?

How do we use the information described in this Policy? To the extent permitted by applicable law, we may use the information described above in order to:

  • Operate and improve our operations, business, and the Site;
  • Provide you with services, content, customer service, and functionality;
  • Honor our terms of service and contracts;
  • Manage our relationship with you;
  • Maintain our databases and back-ups, including records of our communications with you;
  • Ensure the privacy and security of our Site and services;
  • Detect fraud and prevent loss;
  • Support and improve the Site, including evaluations of functionality and features;
  • Improve our customer service;
  • Communicate with you and respond to your feedback, requests, questions, or inquiries;
  • Promote our services;
  • Contact you about other products and services;
  • Improve our screening services, including the identification of potential trial participation;
  • Assess the success of our screening services;
  • Analyze use of the Site and our services and prepare aggregate traffic information;
  • Provide you with a more personal and interactive experience on the Site;
  • Determine and track user interests, trends, needs, and preferences;
  • Facilitate corporate mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, dissolutions, or other transfers;
  • Accomplish any other purpose related to and/or ancillary to any of the purposes and uses described in this Policy for which your information was provided to us;
  • Accomplish another purpose described to you when you provide the information, for which you have consented, or for which we have a legal basis under law;
  • Comply with federal, state, or local laws;
  • Comply with a civil, governmental, or regulatory inquiry, order, subpoena, summons, or process; 
  • Cooperate with law enforcement agencies;
  • Exercise or defend legal rights or claims; and 
  • Create, use, retain, or disclose de-identified or aggregated data.
How do we disclose or share the information described in this Policy? Where permitted by applicable law, we may share the information described above in the following contexts:
CategoryDescription
AffiliatesWe may share your information with our subsidiaries and affiliates and with their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents.
Acquisitions and Similar TransactionsWe may disclose your information in the event of a merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution, or other sale or transfer of some or all of our assets. If our business is acquired by or merged with another company, your information may be transferred to the new owners.
Disclosures with Your ConsentWe may ask if you would like us to share your information with other unaffiliated third parties who are not described elsewhere in this Policy. We will only disclose your information in this context with your consent.
Legal Obligations and Rights (Subpoenas, Court Orders, and Warrants)We may disclose information in response to subpoenas, warrants, court orders or other legal process, or to comply with relevant laws. We may also share information in order to establish or exercise our legal rights or claims; to defend against a legal claim; and to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding possible illegal activities, suspected fraud, safety of person or property, or a violation of our contracts.
Service Providers We may share information with our service providers that need access to information to provide operational or other support services on our behalf. Among other things, service providers help us to administer the Site; support our operations; provide technical support; send communications to you; and assist with other legitimate purposes permitted by law.
Professional AdvisorsWe may share your information with our and our affiliates’ insurers and professional advisors, including attorneys and accountants, that need access to your information to provide operational or other support services on our behalf.
Deidentified or
Aggregated Data
We may disclose aggregated information or de-identified information that does not identify any specific individual, such as groupings of demographic data or customer preferences.
HOW LONG DO WE STORE AND USE YOUR INFORMATION?
We retain and use your information for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, to comply with our business requirements and legal obligations, to resolve disputes, to protect our assets, to operate our business, and to enforce our agreements.

We may delete your information if we believe it is incomplete, inaccurate, or that our continued storage of it is contrary to our objectives or legal obligations. When we delete data, it will be removed from our active servers and databases, but it may remain in our archives when it is not practical or possible to delete it.

To the extent permitted by law, we may retain and use anonymous, de-identified, or aggregated information for performance reporting, benchmarking, and analytic purposes and for operational improvement.
HOW DO WE PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION?
We have put security measures in place to protect the personal information that you share with us from being accidentally lost, used, altered, disclosed, or accessed in an unauthorized manner. From time to time, we review our security procedures to consider appropriate new technologies and methods.

While our security measures seek to protect the personal information in our possession, no security system is perfect, and no data transmission is 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee or warrant the security of any information transmitted to or from the Site. Your use of the Site is at your own risk. We cannot guarantee that your data will remain secure in all circumstances.

If a data breach compromises your personal information, we will notify you and any applicable regulator when we are required to do so by applicable law.
YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES REGARDING PERSONAL INFORMATION
Please use the “Contact Us” details provided at the end of this Policy to exercise your rights and choices under this Policy. We honor such requests when we are required to do so under applicable law.

Communication Preferences. You may change your communication preferences at any time by contacting us via the “Contact Us” details provided at the end of this Policy. If you no longer wish to receive communications from us via email, you may opt-out by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of our emails. If you wish to change your communication preferences, please provide your name, telephone number, and/or email address so that we may identify you in the opt-out process. Once we receive your instruction, we will promptly take action.

Accuracy and Updating Your Information. Our goal is to keep your information accurate, current, and complete. If any of the information you have provided to us changes, please let us know via the “Contact Us” details at the end of this Policy. For instance, if your email address changes, you may wish to let us know so that we can communicate with you. If you become aware of inaccurate personal information about you, you may want to update your information. We are not responsible for any losses arising from any inaccurate, inauthentic, deficient or incomplete personal data that you provide to us.

Complaints. If you believe your rights relating to your personal information have been violated, please contact us via the “Contact Us” details provided at the end of this Policy.

Online Tracking Signals. We do not currently recognize browser settings or signals of tracking preferences, which may include “Do Not Track” instructions. “Do Not Track” is a web browser setting that seeks to disable the tracking of individual users’ browsing activities. We adhere to the standards set out in this Policy and do not currently respond to “Do Not Track” signals on the Site or on third-party websites or online services where we may collect information.

California Shine the Light. Under California Civil Code Section 1798.83, California residents who provide personal information in obtaining products or services for personal, family, or household use may be entitled to request and obtain from us once a calendar year information about the information we shared, if any, with other businesses for direct marketing uses. Please be aware that not all information sharing is covered by the “Shine the Light” requirements and only information on covered sharing, if any, will be included in our response. As part of the California Online Privacy Protection Act, all users of our Site may make any changes to their information at any time by contacting us at CCRC@CoastalCarolinaResearch.com.

Nevada Residents. You may submit a verified request to us at CCRC@CoastalCarolinaResearch.com to request that we not make any sale (as defined under Nevada law) of any covered information (as defined under Nevada law) that we have collected or will collect about you. Please provide your name and contact information in your request. We will respond to your request in accordance with Nevada law.
THIRD-PARTY SITES AND SERVICES
This Policy only applies to the Site, and it does not apply to any third-party websites or applications.

The Site may contain links to, and media or other content from, third parties. These links are to external resources and third parties that have their own privacy policies. Because of the dynamic media capabilities of the Site, it may not be clear to you which links are to external, third-party resources. If you click on an embedded third-party link, you will be redirected away from the Site to the external third-party website. You can check the URL to confirm that you have left the Site.

We cannot and do not (1) guarantee the adequacy of the privacy or security practices employed by or the content and media provided by any third parties or their websites, (2) control third parties’ independent collection or use or your information, or (3) endorse any third-party information, products, services or websites that may be reached through embedded links on the Site.

Any information provided by you or automatically collected from you by a third party will be governed by that party’s privacy policy and terms of use. If you are unsure whether a website is controlled, affiliated, or managed by us, you should review the privacy policy and practices applicable to each linked website.
CHILDREN’S ONLINE PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”), as well as other data privacy regulations, restrict the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information from and about children on the Internet. Our Site and services are not directed to children aged 13 or younger, nor is information knowingly collected from children under the age of 13. No one under the age of 13 may access, browse, or use the Site or provide any information to or on the Site. If you are under 13, please do not use or provide any information on the Site (including, for example, your name, telephone number, email address, or username). If we learn that we have collected or received personal information from a child under the age of 13 without a parent’s or legal guardian’s consent, we will take steps to stop collecting that information and delete it. If you believe we might have any information from or about a child under the age of 13, please contact us via the “Contact Us” details provided at the end of this Policy.

For more information about COPPA, please visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at: https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/rules/rulemaking-regulatory-reform-proceedings/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule.
UPDATES AND CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
We may add to, change, update, or modify this Policy to reflect any changes to how we treat your information or in response to changes in law. Should this Policy change, we will post all changes to this Policy on this page. Any such changes, updates, or modifications will be effective immediately upon posting. The date on which this Policy was last modified is identified at the beginning of this Policy.

You are expected to, and you acknowledge and agree that it is your responsibility to, carefully review this Policy prior to using the Site, and from time to time, so that you are aware of any changes. Your continued use of the Site after the “Last Updated” date will constitute your acceptance of and agreement to such changes and to our collection and sharing of your information according to the terms of the then-current Policy. If you do not agree with this Policy and our practices, you should not use the Site.
UPDATES AND CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

For more information, or if you have any questions or concerns regarding this Policy, you may contact us using the information below, and we will do our best to assist you. Please note, if your communication is sensitive, you may wish to contact us by postal mail or telephone.

     In Writing: Coastal Carolina Research Center
                          4920 O’Hear Avenue, Suite 101
                          North Charleston, SC 29405

     By Phone: (843) 856-3784

     By Email: CCRC@CoastalCarolinaResearch.com