Altered Carbon Synthetic Biology Pty Ltd (ACN 649 555 993) ("Altered Carbon", "we", "us", "our") operates PetTrials at pettrials.com.au ("Platform"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles ("APPs").
1. Information we collect
We collect the following categories of information:
| Category | Data collected | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Account information | Name, email address, phone number (optional), state or territory, password (encrypted) | Account creation, communication, service delivery |
| Pet health data | Pet name, breed, age, weight, sex, microchip number, health conditions, medications, surgical history, vaccination status, trial interest areas | Clinical trial matching, health profile creation |
| Uploaded documents | Veterinary records, vaccination certificates, lab results, imaging reports (PDF, JPG, PNG) | Health profile enrichment, eligibility assessment |
| Usage data | Browser type, IP address, pages visited, access times, registration metadata | Platform improvement, security monitoring, fraud prevention |
2. How we use your information
We use your information to:
- Create and maintain your account and pet health profiles
- Match your pet with relevant veterinary clinical trials
- Notify you when matching trials become available
- Arrange introductions between you and research institutions
- Communicate with you about your account and the Platform
- Improve and maintain the Platform, including monitoring for security incidents and fraud
- Identify and prevent unauthorised access by Restricted Parties (as defined in our Terms of Service)
- Comply with legal obligations
3. When we share your information
We will only share your personal information in the following circumstances:
- With research institutions: When you are matched with a clinical trial, we may share your name, contact details, and relevant pet health information with the research institution conducting the trial. This occurs only after you have been notified of the match and given an opportunity to opt out.
- With your consent: We may share your information with third parties when you have given explicit consent.
- Legal requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, regulation, or legal process, or in connection with the enforcement of our Terms of Service.
- Service providers: We may use trusted service providers for hosting, email delivery, and analytics. These providers are contractually bound to protect your data.
We will never sell your personal information or pet health data to third parties.
4. Data storage and security
All data is stored on servers located in Australia. We implement appropriate security measures including encryption in transit (TLS/SSL), encrypted storage for sensitive fields (passwords), access controls restricting data to authorised personnel, and regular security reviews. While we take reasonable steps to protect your information, no method of electronic storage is fully secure.
5. Data retention
We retain your personal information and pet health data for as long as your account is active. If you close your account, we will delete your data within 30 days, unless retention is required by law, by our Terms of Service, or for legitimate business purposes (such as resolving disputes or enforcing our Terms). De-identified, aggregated data may be retained for research and statistical purposes.
Restricted Party retention
Where an account is identified as belonging to, acting on behalf of, or providing access to a Restricted Party (defined in section 8 of our Terms of Service), Altered Carbon may retain identifying details associated with that account, including name, contact information, IP address, and registration metadata, for up to seven years for fraud-prevention, breach-of-Terms, and dispute purposes. This retention is consistent with APP 11.2 and is limited to the information necessary for those purposes.
6. Your rights
Under the Australian Privacy Principles, you have the right to:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data (subject to the retention exceptions in section 5)
- Complaint: Lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) if you believe we have breached the APPs
To exercise these rights, contact us using the details in section 10.
7. Cookies and tracking
The Platform uses minimal cookies necessary for session management and account authentication. We do not use third-party advertising cookies. We may use analytics tools to understand how the Platform is used. You can control cookies through your browser settings.
8. Children
PetTrials is not intended for use by individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child under 18 has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to delete it.
9. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email or through a notice on the Platform. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised.
10. Contact us
For privacy enquiries or to exercise your rights, contact:
Privacy Officer
Altered Carbon Synthetic Biology Pty Ltd
Email:
Web: pettrials.com.au
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).