Privacy Notice
Protecting your privacy is important to the National Institute of Health (NIH)
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). This page outlines
our privacy policy as it applies to the NCATS’ Unified NCATS Authentication (UNA)
website. UNA collects first and last names and email addresses of authorized users
(and possibly other account identifiers from an authorized Identity provider).
Additionally, UNA collects some data about your visit to better understand how
you use the UNA website and how to make it more helpful. The information collected
is listed below in ‘Types of Information collected’. NCATS UNA never collects
information for commercial marketing or any purpose unrelated to the Center’s
mission and goals. Please contact us using the information in the ‘Contact Us’
section if you have any questions about our policies.
Types of Information Collected
When you browse NCATS UNA website, certain information about your visit can be collected. NCATS automatically collects and temporarily stores the following type of information about your visit:- Authorized identity provider username and email address. This information is only used only for identifying and authorizing the user when the user requests access to a client application through UNA.
- Domain from which you access the Internet.
- IP address. (An IP address is a numeric address for a user’s system that is automatically supplied as a part of any internet request).
- Operating system and information about the browser used when visiting the site as supplied by the browser. Date and time of your visit.
- Pages you visited.
- Address of the website that connected you to UNA (such as google.com or bing.com) as supplied by your browser.
How UNA Collects Information
This website uses log management software to collect the information in the bulleted list under Types of Information Collected. The system collects information automatically and continuously. Other than the information listed above, no other PII information is collected. NCATS staff and contractors conduct analyses and report on the aggregated data. The reports are only available to this website’s managers and other designated staff who require this information to perform their duties. NCATS retains the data as long as needed to support the mission of this website.How UNA Uses Cookies
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memo M-10-22, Guidance of Online Use of Web Measurement and Customization Technologies allows Federal agencies to use session and persistent cookies.When you visit any website, its server may generate a piece of text known as a “cookie” to place on your computer. The cookie allows the server to “remember” specific information about your visit while you are connected.
The cookie makes it easier for you to use the dynamic features of webpages. Requests to send cookies from UNA's webpages are designed to collect information about your browser session only; they do not collect personal information about you.
There are two types of cookies, single session (temporary) and multi-session (persistent). Session cookies last only as long as your Web browser is open. Once you close your browser, the cookie disappears. Persistent cookies are stored on your computer for longer periods.
Session Cookies
We use session cookies for technical purposes, such as to enable better navigation through our site. These cookies let our server know that you are continuing a visit to our site. The OMB memo 10-22 guidance defines use of session cookies as "Usage Tier 1— Single Session.” The policy says, “This tier encompasses any use of single session Web measurement and customization technologies.”Persistent Cookies
We use persistent cookies to enable the system to differentiate between new and returning visitors to the UNA website. Persistent cookies remain on your computer between visits to this website until they expire. The OMB memo 10-22 guidance defines use of persistent cookies as "Usage Tier 2—Multi-session without Personally Identifiable Information (PII).” The policy says, “This tier encompasses any use of multi-session Web measurement and customization technologies when no PII is collected.”How to Opt Out or Disable Cookies
If you do not wish to have session or persistent cookies placed on your computer, you can disable them using your Web browser. If you opt out of persistent cookies, you may still access information and resources via UNA, however, some pages may not display properly. Instructions to disable cookies in the most popular browsers are located at https://www.usa.gov/optout-instructions. Please note that by following the instructions to opt-out of cookies, you will disable cookie from all sources, not just those from UNA's website.Conditions of Use
You are accessing a U.S. Government Web site, which may contain information that must be protected under the U.S. Privacy Act, or other sensitive information, and is intended for Government-authorized use only. Unauthorized or improper use of this site is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action and/or civil and criminal penalties. At any time, and for any lawful Government purpose, the government may monitor, record, and audit your system usage and/or intercept, search and seize any communication or data transiting or stored on this system. Therefore, you have no reasonable expectation of privacy. Any communication or data transiting or stored on this system may be disclosed or used for any lawful Government purpose.Consent
Please note that by visiting this site, you accept the practices described in this Privacy Statement and consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this notice. This site allows you to access resources hosted by or under the management of NCATS. By accessing these resources, you consent to allow your authorized identity provider (IDP) to share information including your name, email address, and organizational affiliation with NCATS. Additional relevant data, such as job title, roles, or group membership may also be shared at the discretion of the authorized IDP.Authority
The legal authorities governing the use and disclosure of information collected by NCATS UNA include the Privacy Act of 1974 and Public Law 114-255. In addition, information use and disclosure may also be governed by 45 CFR 46, Protection of Human Subjects; 42 USC 241, Research and Investigations; 42 USC 281, Organization of NIH, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (P.L. 112-74), and 42 USC 287 Code, NCATS – Purpose of the Center.Revision of this Notice
We may revise this Notice at any time by posting an amended Notice on the site. Any changes that we make to this Notice will be effective immediately upon posting. Please check this page periodically for changes to the Notice.How Information is Protected?
You do not have to give us personal information to visit the NCATS UNA sites. However, if you choose to access NCATS resources that UNA interface provides, then you provide us with personally identifiable information, that is, information that is personal in nature and which may be used to identify you, through an e-mail message, request for information, paper or electronic form, questionnaire, customer satisfaction survey, epidemiology research study, etc., we will maintain the information you provide only as long continue to use or maintain authorized user status.If we stored your personal information (email address or authorized provided account identifier), for the stated purpose of maintaining your access to NCATS resources, we’ve implemented encrypted protection and will safeguard your information in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. Section 552a). NIH legal authorization to collect information about you