Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern the grant program identified in Part 2 (the “Program”) and described in the Program Details published on the Program landing page. The Program is sponsored by the entity identified as Sponsor in Part 2 (“Sponsor”). “Partner” means the co-marketing partner, if any, identified in Part 2; the Partner is not the Sponsor of the Program. Where these Terms grant any right, protection, release, or benefit to the Partner, that provision applies to the entity named as Partner in Part 2. Cellanome, Inc. (“Cellanome”) is a co-marketing partner and is not the Sponsor of the Program. By submitting an application, the applicant agrees to be bound by these Terms. NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

Part 1 — General Terms

1. Eligibility

Participation is open to individuals professionally engaged in laboratory-based scientific research who have attained the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence (and in no event are less than 18 years of age), subject to the program-specific eligibility in Part 2. Participation is subject to all applicable laws and regulations and is void where prohibited or where registration, bonding, or language translation is required. The following are ineligible:

• Employees, officers, directors, agents, representatives, and independent contractors of the Sponsor or the Partner, and its subsidiaries and affiliates, together with their immediate family members and members of the same household (whether related or not);
• Residents of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea, Donetsk, or Luhansk regions, Russia, or any country or region subject to comprehensive U.S. embargo;
• Any person or entity on the U.S. Denied Persons List, Specially Designated Nationals List, Entity List, Unverified List, or any similar list maintained by the U.S. or any other government to whose laws the Sponsor, its subsidiaries or affiliates, the Program, or such person is subject, and all individuals employed thereby or associated therewith;
• Any person for whom it would be illegal to participate in or win the Program, or with or to whom it would be illegal for the Sponsor to interact or grant any award as contemplated herein.

2. How to Enter

Entries must be submitted in the manner and within the entry period specified in Part 2. An entry consists of a single research abstract, of the length specified on the Program landing page, describing the proposed project, together with the applicant’s contact information and required consents. Applications are submitted to Sponsor for the purpose of administering the Program, and neither Sponsor nor the Partner acquires any ownership of the underlying research, ideas, or intellectual property described in an application. Sponsor makes no guarantee or warranty regarding the security or confidentiality of applications or the application process; however, Sponsor will use reasonable efforts to limit access to submitted abstracts to personnel administering the Program. By entering, the applicant grants Sponsor and the Partner permission to contact the applicant regarding their products and services, whether or not the applicant is selected. Each applicant is entitled to one (1) entry only; applicants deemed to have submitted multiple entries or acted in bad faith will be excluded and rendered ineligible.

3. Selection of Winners and Notification

Winners are selected from all qualified applications by Sponsor’s review committee, which chooses the applications that, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, best use the award to demonstrate the capabilities of the platform or products identified in Part 2. The applicant acknowledges and agrees that participation, winner selection, and any award are NOT based upon the volume or value of any business previously or potentially generated between Sponsor and the applicant or the applicant’s institution. Entrants may not win multiple awards. The committee’s decision is final and binding and is not subject to review or appeal.

Sponsor will attempt to notify selected applicants by email within the period specified in Part 2. The selected applicant must respond within the response period specified in Part 2; if the applicant does not respond within that period, the award may be forfeited and an alternate selected at Sponsor’s discretion. Once contacted, Sponsor and the winner will discuss project details, required documentation, and sample submission. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

4. Restrictions

The award is subject to the deadlines and usage restrictions specified in Part 2. The award may not be combined with other discounts, offers, or promotions, may not be transferred or assigned, and has no cash substitute or equivalent. Samples must be prepared per Sponsor instructions, collected in compliance with applicable law and ethical permitting requirements, and meet the safety requirements in Part 2. The winner may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility / release of liability / publicity release (where legal) within the period specified in Part 2; failure to do so results in forfeiture and selection of an alternate.

No submitted ideas, information, or materials will be returned, and Sponsor makes no guarantee of confidentiality. All taxes on the award and any other costs, fees, and expenses are the sole responsibility of the winner and/or the winner’s institution. By submitting an application or accepting an award, the applicant agrees, on behalf of the applicant and the applicant’s institution, to be bound by these Terms and by all good-faith decisions of Sponsor. The applicant represents and warrants that they meet all eligibility requirements, have obtained all required institutional authorizations, that entering violates no law or institutional policy, and that the application information is true and rightfully theirs to disclose. Sponsor may refuse to grant the award if doing so would likely violate any applicable law, rule, or policy.

5. Use of Winner’s Name and Likeness

If selected, the applicant’s name, biographical information, likeness, institution or company name, and project title (excluding further project details) may, without further compensation, be published on Sponsor and the Partner websites and, at Sponsor’s discretion, social media. By accepting the award, the winner grants Sponsor and the Partner the worldwide right, in any media now known or later developed, to print, publish, broadcast, and use the foregoing.

6. Publications, Data, and Testimonials

It is the objective of the parties that winners will present the results of the proposed study in one or more publications. Sponsor may, but is not obligated to, use such results to create marketing materials. Winners are encouraged to share their results in a webinar or workshop hosted by Sponsor, and Sponsor may request such a presentation; participation is not mandatory, the timing, format, and scope will be agreed mutually, and presentation materials will be reviewed by both parties in advance.

6.1 Winner’s data and publication rights.

The winner retains full ownership of their research data and the right to publish their own research results first. Sponsor’s use of any results shall not restrict, delay, or condition that right.

6.2 Sponsor’s use of published results.

Sponsor and the Partner reserve the right to reference any published results stemming from this work in marketing collateral. Sponsor and the Partner may also use unpublished results, data excerpts, or images in marketing, webinars, or other materials with the winner's written permission, which the winner may grant at their discretion. This preserves the winner's right to publish first while enabling timely program marketing.

6.3 Testimonial (condition of award).

As a condition of the award, the winner agrees to provide Sponsor with a brief written testimonial (approximately 2–4 sentences) describing their experience with the Program and Psomagen’s service, following project completion. Sponsor and the Partner may use this testimonial, together with the winner’s name, institution, and title, in marketing materials. This does not require the winner to submit raw data or unpublished results. Any public use of a testimonial will disclose that the author received a Program award at no charge, and the testimonial will reflect the author’s honest, actual experience. The Partner’s use of a winner’s name, likeness, published results, or testimonial under Sections 5 and 6 is limited to co-marketing coordinated with the Sponsor, and the Partner will not make independent, separate use of such materials. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Partner may use such materials in its own marketing channels, provided the Partner coordinates with the Sponsor on timing and messaging and does not misrepresent the Sponsor’s role; the Sponsor’s pre-approval of each such use is not required.

7. Indemnity, Disclaimer, and Limitation of Liability

By participating, the applicant agrees, on behalf of the applicant and their institution, to release, discharge, indemnify, and hold harmless Sponsor, the Partner, and their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees, agents, and representatives (collectively, the “Protected Parties”) from all liability for any injury, loss, or damage (including death or property damage) arising from participation or the acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any award. None of the Protected Parties makes any warranty as to the award’s quality or fitness for a particular purpose.

SPONSOR AND THE PARTNER ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST, LATE, STOLEN, INCOMPLETE, ILLEGIBLE, INACCURATE, UNDELIVERED, DELAYED, OR MISDIRECTED ENTRIES, OR FOR ANY COMPUTER, INTERNET, EMAIL, TELEPHONE, OR TECHNICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR DELAYS, OR HUMAN ERRORS IN PROCESSING, TRANSMISSION, OR RECEIPT OF ENTRIES, OR IF THE PROGRAM CANNOT BE CONDUCTED AS PLANNED FOR ANY CAUSE BEYOND SPONSOR’S CONTROL.

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROTECTED PARTIES OR THEIR AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROGRAM OR THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE, OR MISUSE OF THE AWARD, ON ANY LEGAL THEORY, WHETHER OR NOT ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THE FOREGOING APPLIES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. SPONSOR’S AND THE PARTNER’S TOTAL AND CUMULATIVE LIABILITY SHALL IN NO EVENT EXCEED THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE AWARD.

8. Miscellaneous

Sponsor reserves the right to suspend, modify, cancel, or terminate the Program without advance notice, including for any reason that would compromise its legality, integrity, administration, or fairness. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect. The Partner is an intended third-party beneficiary of the releases, indemnities, disclaimers, and limitations of liability in these Terms and may enforce those protections directly, including as a defense to any claim asserted against the Partner; provided that the Partner will coordinate with the Sponsor before initiating any affirmative claim against an applicant. These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, USA, without application of its choice-of-law principles. Failure to comply due to force majeure (civil unrest, terrorism, war, embargoes, governmental actions, acts of God, epidemics, quarantine, supplier delay, or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control) is not a breach.

Part 2 — Grant Program Terms

The following program-specific terms apply to the Grant Program and are read together with the General Terms in Part 1.