Terms of Use for GI-DB

GI-DB (Genome India Database) is a public resource that provides summary information on genetic variants observed in the GenomeIndia Project. By accessing or using this website, you agree to the terms below.

1. Scope and nature of the data

GI-DB presents aggregate, de-identified variant frequencies and annotations derived from GenomeIndia data. It does not expose raw sequencing files (FASTQ), gVCFs, joint call files, phenotype data, or other individual-level records. Those data are archived and governed separately by the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) under the Biotech-PRIDE Guidelines (2021) and the FeED (Framework for Exchange of Data) Protocols issued by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India.

2. Permitted use

You may use GI-DB for the following purposes:

• Academic and research use in accordance with applicable laws, institutional policies, and ethics approvals.
• Method development and benchmarking (for example, variant interpretation, population genetics, or statistical modelling).
• Teaching and training (for example, illustrative examples in courses or workshops), with appropriate attribution.

3. Prohibited use

When using GI-DB you must not:

• Attempt to re-identify any individual, group, or community from the data, alone or in combination with other sources.
• Use the data to make, support, or promote discriminatory, stigmatizing, or defamatory statements about individuals, populations, communities, or groups.
• Use GI-DB as the sole basis for clinical decision-making (diagnosis, treatment, or patient management) without independent validation and appropriate regulatory/ethical approvals.
• Use the data for commercial exploitation (including product development or services) without explicit written permission from the relevant DBT authorities and data custodians.
• Misrepresent the source, scope, or limitations of GI-DB when presenting results or derived products.

4. Compliance with DBT data-sharing policies

Use of GI-DB must be consistent with DBT’s national data-sharing frameworks, including the Biotech-PRIDE Guidelines (2021) and the FeED Protocols for GenomeIndia data. Users are expected to:

• Follow their institutional ethics committee and data governance requirements.
• Respect conditions specified in any separate approvals obtained from IBDC or DBT for access to individual-level GenomeIndia data.
• Handle any downloaded data responsibly, with appropriate safeguards against unauthorized access or misuse.

5. Attribution and acknowledgements

When you use GI-DB in publications, presentations, or derived works, please acknowledge:

• The GenomeIndia Project, funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.
• The GI-DB web resource (Genome India Database) and the contributing consortium institutions.

Where applicable, also cite the GenomeIndia flagship publications describing the dataset and analysis.

6. Privacy, confidentiality, and equity

GI-DB is built on de-identified and aggregate data. Despite this, users must recognise that genomic data can carry sensitivities for individuals, communities, and populations. You agree to:

• Respect the privacy and confidentiality of participants whose data contributed to the resource.
• Consider potential social, cultural, and ethical implications when interpreting and communicating results.
• Refrain from analyses or statements that could reasonably cause harm, stigma, or discrimination to any group.

7. Disclaimers

• GI-DB is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis, without warranties of any kind, express or implied.
• The GenomeIndia consortium, DBT, and hosting institutions do not guarantee that the data are free from errors or suitable for any specific purpose.
• The consortium, DBT, and hosting institutions shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages arising from the use of GI-DB.
• Variant annotation and interpretation are evolving; users are responsible for independently verifying any results before relying on them.

8. Changes to the resource and these terms

The GI-DB website and its contents may be updated, expanded, or modified over time as the GenomeIndia project evolves. These Terms of Use may also be updated periodically to reflect new policies or regulatory requirements. Continued use of GI-DB after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

9. Contact

For questions about GI-DB or these Terms of Use, please use the contact details on the Contact page or the official channels of the GenomeIndia Project and DBT.