Terms of use
The rules that govern this site, and the one section we'd genuinely like you to read.
By using this site you agree to the terms below. If you don't, please don't use it. "Backbone," "we," and "us" mean the publication operating from 419 Kelvin Street, Suite 2B, Cambridge, MA 02142.
Medical disclaimer
Everything on this site is published for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition, and nothing here should be used as a substitute for the judgment of a qualified healthcare professional who knows your history.
No clinician–patient relationship is formed by reading this site, subscribing to the newsletter, or corresponding with us. Our writers and reviewers are not acting as your physicians, pharmacists, or advisors, and cannot assess your situation. If you have a health question, take it to a licensed clinician. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice because of something you read here.
Backbone sells nothing. We do not sell, supply, source, broker, or arrange access to any substance, and we do not endorse the use of any substance. We publish no quantities, routes of administration, protocols, cycles, preparation instructions, or purchasing guidance, and we will not provide them on request.
On investigational compounds. Many peptides discussed in fitness, wellness, and biohacking spaces have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for any use, are not dietary supplements, and have not been evaluated for safety in healthy people. Describing what such a compound does in a laboratory setting is not a statement that it is safe, effective, legal to obtain, or appropriate for anyone. Where you want the underlying evidence, the peer-reviewed literature, the FDA, and ClinicalTrials.gov are the right places to look — and your own clinician is the right person to ask.
Accuracy, and the fact that we may be wrong
We work hard to get this right. Explainers are drafted from primary and review literature, checked against public regulatory and trial records, and reviewed by a biochemist before publication. Even so, science writing goes out of date, sources conflict, and people make mistakes — we will occasionally publish something that is wrong.
Content is therefore provided "as is," without warranty of accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose. Our articles reflect our understanding on the date shown at the top of each piece, and we do not undertake to revisit older pieces as the field moves.
If you spot an error, please tell us: corrections@readbackbone.org. That inbox is read by a person, we take it seriously, and confirmed corrections are published at the top of the affected piece rather than buried at the bottom.
External links
We link out to journals, regulatory agencies, trial registries, and other publications where it helps a reader go deeper. Those sites are not under our control. A link is not an endorsement of the linked organisation, its content, its products, or its accuracy, and we take no responsibility for anything you find there or for what those sites do with your data. Their terms and privacy policies apply once you leave us.
Intellectual property
Text and original graphics on this site are © Backbone unless stated otherwise. You're welcome to quote us — a short excerpt with attribution and a link back needs no permission. Republishing a full article does; write to editors@readbackbone.org. Photographs are licensed from their respective photographers and are not ours to sublicense. The Backbone name and mark are ours.
Acceptable use
Don't use this site to break the law, don't attempt to disrupt or gain unauthorised access to it, don't scrape it at a volume that degrades service for other readers, and don't misrepresent our content — including by editing a quotation so that it appears to recommend the use of any substance. We reserve the right to block access where any of this occurs.
Newsletter
The digest is free and you may unsubscribe at any time using the link in any issue. We may change its frequency, format, or content, or discontinue it. Handling of your address is described in the privacy policy.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Backbone and its contributors are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential loss arising from your use of this site or from reliance on anything published here. You use this site, and any information on it, at your own risk. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, in which case they apply to the extent permitted.
Changes to these terms
We may revise these terms as the site changes. The current version always lives at this address with the revision date at the top; continuing to use the site after a change means you accept the revised terms.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to its conflict-of-law provisions. Any dispute arising from them or from your use of this site is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Contact
Questions about these terms: hello@readbackbone.org, or Backbone, 419 Kelvin Street, Suite 2B, Cambridge, MA 02142, (617) 555-0148.