1. Introduction

Methods Clinic respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us.

This Privacy Policy explains how Methods Clinic, operated by Bharath , collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects personal information when you:

• Visit [Website URL]
• Submit an enquiry through our website
• Request an advisory session
• Contact us by email, telephone, or another communication channel
• Share research-related materials with us
• Engage our methodological, statistical, grant, protocol, or manuscript advisory services

By using this website or contacting us, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Who We Are

Business name: Methods Clinic

For applicable data-protection laws, Methods Clinic may act as the organisation responsible for deciding why and how your personal information is processed.

3. Information We May Collect

Information You Provide Directly

We may collect:

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Country or location
• Organisation, institution, or professional affiliation
• Job title or professional role
• Details about your research project
• Requested service
• Project stage and expected timeline
• Communications exchanged with us
• Documents submitted for review
• Billing and payment information
• Feedback or testimonials provided voluntarily

Research and Project Information

Depending on the service requested, you may provide:

• Research concepts or questions
• Study protocols
• Grant applications
• Statistical analysis plans
• Manuscripts
• Tables, figures, or research reports
• De-identified datasets or analytical summaries
• Reviewer comments and response documents

You must not submit identifiable patient information, medical records, confidential participant information, or protected health information unless this has been expressly agreed in writing and appropriate safeguards are in place.

Information Collected Automatically

When you access the website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address
• Browser and device information
• Operating system
• Pages visited
• Referral source
• Date and time of access
• Approximate location based on IP address
• Cookie and analytics information
• Website interaction and performance data

4. How We Use Your Information

We may use personal information to:

• Respond to enquiries
• Assess whether we can support your project
• Arrange meetings or advisory sessions
• Prepare proposals, quotations, and engagement terms
• Deliver methodological and statistical advisory services
• Review research documents
• Communicate about project progress
• Process invoices and payments
• Maintain business and financial records
• Improve our website and services
• Protect the security of our systems
• Prevent fraud, misuse, or unlawful activity
• Manage complaints or disputes
• Comply with legal, regulatory, tax, or professional obligations
• Send service-related updates
• Send marketing communications where permitted or consented to

We will not use confidential research materials for unrelated purposes without permission.

5. Legal Bases for Processing

Where applicable law requires a legal basis, we may process your information because:

• It is necessary to respond to your request or enter into a contract
• It is necessary to perform a contract with you
• You have provided consent
• We have a legitimate business interest that does not override your rights
• Processing is required to comply with a legal obligation
• Processing is necessary to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims

Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal does not affect processing that occurred before consent was withdrawn.

6. Cookies and Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep the website functioning correctly
• Remember user preferences
• Understand website traffic
• Measure website performance
• Improve usability
• Support security
• Measure the effectiveness of communications or campaigns

Cookies may be placed by us or by approved third-party service providers, such as website analytics, hosting, form, scheduling, or security providers.

Where required, non-essential cookies will be used only after you provide consent.

You may control cookies through the cookie banner or browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

7. How We Share Information

We may share information only where reasonably necessary with:

• Website hosting providers
• Email and communication providers
• Scheduling and meeting platforms
• Cloud-storage providers
• Payment processors
• Accounting and professional advisers
• IT, cybersecurity, or technical-support providers
• Contractors or specialist advisers engaged for an approved project
• Government, regulatory, tax, or law-enforcement authorities where legally required
• A purchaser, investor, or successor in connection with a business transfer

Service providers may process information only for authorised purposes and are expected to protect it appropriately.

We do not sell personal information to advertisers.

8. Confidentiality of Research Materials

Research concepts, protocols, datasets, grant applications, manuscripts, analytical plans, and unpublished findings shared with us will be treated as confidential.

Access will be limited to individuals who reasonably need the information to assess or deliver the requested service.

Where appropriate, confidentiality may also be governed by:

• A nondisclosure agreement
• A consultancy agreement
• A data-processing agreement
• Institutional requirements
• Specific written project terms

The initial website contact form should not be used to send sensitive, patient-identifiable, or highly confidential information.

9. International Data Transfers

Some service providers may process or store information outside your country.

Where required, we will take reasonable steps to use appropriate safeguards for international transfers, which may include contractual protections, approved transfer mechanisms, or providers operating under recognised legal frameworks.

10. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for:

• Responding to enquiries
• Delivering services
• Maintaining project and business records
• Fulfilling contractual obligations
• Meeting tax, accounting, insurance, legal, or professional requirements
• Resolving disputes
• Enforcing agreements

Typical retention periods may include:

• Unsuccessful or inactive enquiries: [12–24 months]
• Client and project records: [6–8 years] after the engagement ends
• Financial and invoice records: as required by applicable tax law
• Marketing information: until consent is withdrawn or an opt-out is received

Confidential project materials may be deleted, returned, or retained according to the applicable engagement agreement.

11. Information Security

We use reasonable organisational and technical measures intended to protect information from:

• Unauthorised access
• Accidental loss
• Improper use
• Alteration
• Unauthorised disclosure
• Destruction

Measures may include access controls, password protection, encryption where appropriate, secure storage, backups, and restricted access.

No internet transmission or electronic-storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

12. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Be informed about how your information is used
• Request access to your personal information
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of eligible information
• Withdraw consent
• Object to certain processing
• Request restriction of processing
• Request a portable copy of certain information
• Opt out of direct marketing
• Make a complaint to an appropriate data-protection authority
• Nominate another person to exercise certain rights where applicable

To submit a request, contact bharath@icuconsultants.com.

We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling a request.

13. Marketing Communications

We may send relevant updates about Methods Clinic only where permitted by law.

You can stop receiving marketing messages by:

• Selecting the unsubscribe option in an email
• Contacting us at [Email Address]

You may still receive necessary administrative, contractual, or project-related communications.

14. Children’s Privacy

Our website and services are intended for adult clinicians, researchers, institutions, and professional research teams.

We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children through this website.

15. Third-Party Links

The website may contain links to journals, institutions, funders, reporting guidelines, professional organisations, or other third-party websites.

We are not responsible for the privacy, security, accuracy, or content of third-party websites. Their own policies apply when you visit them.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy when our practices, services, technologies, or legal obligations change.

The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised “Last updated” date.

17. Contact Us

For privacy questions, requests, or complaints, contact:

Methods Clinic