FAQ
This FAQ section is dynamic and will change over time. If your question is not addressed, please, reach out and contact BioFigR.
What is a CRO and BaaS provider?
What is a bioinformatics CRO?
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A Contract Research Organization (CRO) in bioinformatics provides specialized data analysis and workflow development services on a per project basis. Instead of hiring a full-time bioinformatician, labs and biotech companies can outsource specific projects to a CRO for faster, cost-effective results.
What is BaaS?
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Bioinformatics-as-a-Service (BaaS) delivers expert analysis of genomics, transcriptomics, and other -omics data through flexible consulting. This model gives teams access to specialized skills without long-term staffing commitments.
Who will I work with at BioFigR?
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Currently, you’ll work directly with Dr. Stephen Stockdale. As BioFigR grows, projects may also involve trusted specialists, but oversight and quality control remain centralized.
How is a bioinformatics CRO different from hiring a full-time bioinformatician?
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A CRO provides immediate access to niche expertise without the cost of recruitment, training, or ongoing salaries. It’s also more flexible: you pay only for the projects you need, when you need them.
When should I consider outsourcing my data analysis?
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Consider outsourcing when:
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Need specialized workflows (e.g., RNA-seq, metagenomics, custom R pipelines)
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Face tight deadlines and lack internal capacity
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Want reproducible results without investing in in-house infrastructure
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Require tailored analysis beyond standard core facility or high-throughput sequencing-service offerings
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What services do you offer?
What types of -omics data analysis do you provide?
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BioFigR offers research-grade analysis Services across genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, and metagenomics. Projects can use validated open-source workflows or custom bash/R pipelines tailored to your research goals.
Do you handle both published and recently sequenced data?
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Yes. BioFigR can work with new sequencing data for publication as well as existing datasets for re-analysis, data mining, or exploratory proof-of-concept work.
Are your bioinformatics pipelines reproducible?
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Yes. Analyses are built on validated open-source tools wherever possible, with clear documentation for transparency and reproducibility. Custom pipelines are delivered with scripts and version control for future reuse.
Can you customize different analyses?
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Yes. Analyses can be adapted to your project’s needs, including batch correction, outlier removal, grouping strategies, and tailored data visualization.
Do you work on both human and non-human studies?
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Yes. BioFigR supports human, model organisms, and non-model species, adjusting reference databases, annotations, and workflows accordingly.
I don't see a service that matches my research needs — can you still help?
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Yes. BioFigR is flexible and adapts to specialized requirements. If your project doesn’t fit neatly into a listed service, please Contact BioFigR to discuss a tailored solution.
How do I start a project with BioFigR?
How do I start working with BioFigR?
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Contact BioFigR with a short description of your project, data type, and research goals. We’ll arrange an initial consultation to define scope, timelines, and deliverables.
What information do you need before starting analysis?
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BioFigR will need details on your experimental design, sample metadata, raw data format, and any specific hypotheses or analytical requirements.
How long does a typical project take?
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Most small projects take 1–3 calendar weeks once data and requirements are confirmed. Larger or more complex analyses may take longer, depending on scope.
What are your pricing models?
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Pricing is available per project or on a retainer basis for ongoing collaborations. A formal quote is provided after reviewing project details.
Can you sign NDAs or data use agreements?
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Yes. BioFigR can work under NDAs or formal data use agreements to protect your intellectual property and unpublished results.
Is my data safe to share?
How do you handle sensitive or unpublished data?
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All client data is treated as confidential and is never shared without written consent.
Where is data stored and processed?
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Data is stored and processed on local or secure, access-controlled, cloud infrastructure. Cloud resources are provided by Ireland-based CloudCIX.
Do you comply with GDPR or other data protection standards?
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Yes. BioFigR complies with GDPR and follows recognized best practices for data security and privacy.
Can you delete my data after the project?
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Yes. By default, BioFigR regularly deletes data associated with completed projects, except where clients agree to longer retention.
Will my results be shared publicly?
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No. Results remain private unless you choose to release them as part of a publication or public dataset.
What deliverables will I get?
What will I receive at the end of the project?
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You will receive a comprehensive analysis report, processed and intermediate datasets, a full list of software packages used (with versions), and publication-ready figures in standard formats. See Services for details specific to each workflow.
Do you provide your raw code and scripts?
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Yes, on request, all analysis scripts and workflows can be supplied so that results are fully reproducible.
What if I need revisions or amendments to analyses or graphs?
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Each project includes an agreed number of revisions. Substantial changes or new analyses beyond this scope can be arranged as a follow-up project.
Can you help prepare figures or methods text for publications?
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Yes. BioFigR can format figures, provide figure captions, and draft methods text to meet journal requirements. These services must be agreed at the start of the project so they are included in the initial deliverables.
Can you upload data to a public repository?
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Yes. Data deposition and metadata preparation can be included if specified at project initiation. Repository upload is treated as a defined deliverable, not an automatic follow-up.
How should BioFigR’s contribution be recognized in publications?
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Project outputs must include a clear statement in the Methods describing who performed the bioinformatics analyses and how they were conducted. Acknowledgments are optional, but BioFigR requests acknowledgment where appropriate. Authorship may be considered if BioFigR’s contribution provides sufficient intellectual input to justify co-authorship under standard academic practice.
Must I pay VAT on BioFigR services?
What VAT must I pay on BioFigR services?
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Ireland (B2B or B2C): 23% VAT added.
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EU B2B (you provide a valid EU VAT ID): Reverse charge → BioFigR charges 0%; you self-account in your Member State.
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EU B2C (no VAT ID): 23% Irish VAT added.
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UK & all non-EU countries (B2B/B2C): 0% (outside the scope of Irish VAT).
What do “B2B” and “B2C” mean for VAT?
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B2B is BioFigR selling to a VAT-registered business (e.g., a company, university, or institute with a VAT number). B2C is selling to a consumer/non-VAT-registered buyer (e.g., an individual researcher paying personally).
We’re a charity—are we VAT-exempt?
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Not automatically. In Ireland, professional services are still subject to VAT, even when supplied to charities or universities. Unless you hold a specific legal exemption for the service (rare) and provide evidence, BioFigR must charge VAT as above.
How does the EU reverse charge work?
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What we need from you: legal entity name, EU VAT ID, billing address/country.
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What we do: verify your VAT ID on VIES, store the check, and issue a 0% invoice.
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Invoice wording (appears on your invoice):
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“Reverse charge – Article 196 EU VAT Directive. Place of supply per Article 44.”
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Your VAT ID printed on the invoice.
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If your VAT ID fails verification: we must charge 23% Irish VAT.
What appears on my invoice & what records do you keep?
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Invoice shows: price ex-VAT, VAT rate/amount (if any), your VAT ID (when supplied), currency, and BioFigR’s VAT number.
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Deposits/part-payments: VAT is accounted for on each payment (standard Irish rules).
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Compute & cloud costs: if itemized and charged separately, will always incur Irish B2B VAT rates.
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Evidence we keep (for compliance): VIES check result, billing country, service description, and proof of export for non-EU sales.