The latest NCIM Conference brought together clinicians, researchers, and industry experts to explore a theme around functional testing : The Ethics of Knowledge. Rather than asking whether testing is good or bad, the day was a reflection on the ethical responsibility both to test and not to test, in an era where technology increasingly allows us to see deeper into human biological processes.

The morning began with Dr Nicola Hembury, who has worked for over a decade in the evolving field of cancer testing. She explored advances in identifying circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and cancer stem-like cells through organisations such as RGCC and Grail.

In her work, she illustrates how these advances can be both hopeful and fraught.They may allow earlier intervention or bespoke chemotherapy through chemosensitivity testing.

But they also carry ambiguity: how many CTCs are “normal”? When does detection justify action?

In real-world practice, these tests are not yet replacements for biopsy or histology — a reminder that testing must be embedded within clinical context.

While such technologies can support early intervention they also raise ethical questions: what do we do with information about potential disease long before symptoms appear? Dr Hembury reminded us that not every cancer is identifiable via these tests, and interpretation still demands expert clinical oversight. In short, like with all technology, it is the human behind it which remains key to how the technology is best used.

The discussion underscored the need for robust research, patient consent, and an understanding that testing alone cannot replace diagnosis or clinical judgment.

Next, Emma Beswick, founder of LifeCode GX, turned to the growing field of genetic and nutrigenomic testing. Her presentation, titled Roles and Responsibilities in an Unregulated World, highlighted the current absence of regulation around who can offer genetic testing and how results are interpreted.

Emma reminded delegates that genetics exist on a spectrum, from conditions such as Huntington’s disease, where genes play a dominant role, to complex disorders like depression or heart disease, where lifestyle and environment are key.

She discussed nutrigenetics and epigenetics, showing how diet, toxins, and stress can modify gene expression, and shared practical insights into common variants such as APOE, associated with Alzheimer’s risk. Importantly, she emphasised the emotional and ethical considerations – do people want to know? She also showcased LifeCode GX’s new practitioner ethics training, born out of preparing for this very conference!

Her work reminds us that testing is not an end in itself, but a conversation that must be held with humility, clarity, and patient partnership.

We then heard from Hannah Bray of Invivo, who guided participants through the rapidly advancing world of microbiome science. Invivo’s collaboration with the Australian company Microba uses metagenomic sequencing to map the vast diversity of microbes living in the human gut.

Hannah traced the history of microbiology from the invention of the microscope to the first mapping of microbial DNA, illustrating how today’s shotgun metagenomic sequencing can reveal not only which species are present but what they’re actually doing.

Such insights open doors for truly personalised nutrition and medicine though, as some participants noted, they also raise the question of when knowledge becomes overwhelming, and how to balance curiosity with clinical relevance.

She drew attention to projects like ZOE, which are using this depth of data to find new “healthy” microbe species (for example, ones that flourish on nuts and seeds).

Yet Hannah cautioned: as our datasets expand, so do the risks of overinterpretation — again bringing us back to ethical discernment.

In the afternoon, Dr Sally Bramley and Dr Sally Moorcroft, both experienced in integrative and functional medicine, explored how to translate functional tests into personalised healing.

They reminded us that testing should inform and empower, not confuse or frighten. The pair walked through examples – hormone and cardiometabolic panels, adrenal stress testing – and stressed the importance of informed consent, context, and timing.

Too much data, too soon, can lead to anxiety or misplaced self-identity (“I’m an APOE4” or “I have adrenal fatigue”). Clinicians must help reframe results in actionable, balanced care.

They emphasised that each test should answer a specific clinical question to avoid ordering broad panels “out of curiosity.”

Instead, the clinicians encouraged careful questioning before testing: What do we want to learn from this test? Will it change management? Is it validated and clinically relevant?

Importantly, they stressed the fundamentals: full clinical history, red-flag screening, lifestyle context, and patient readiness.

Dr Moorcroft also shared practical approaches for supporting adrenal and metabolic health. From nutritional interventions to mindfulness and heart-rate variability work, highlighting how data can be a catalyst for behavioural change rather than an endpoint.

The closing panel brought all the voices together to consider how innovation is adopted. Hannah Bray introduced the concept of the adoption ellipse: the tension between early adopters (often patients seeking answers now) and late adopters (institutions waiting for stronger evidence).

The discussion acknowledged this necessary balance. As one participant reflected, being cautious doesn’t mean being closed; it means being mindful starting with small, evidence-based steps, like exploring gut health or monitoring glucose variability, before expanding further. All speakers agreed: begin with small, high-yield testing before leaping into large, costly panels. Testing should enhance care, not overshadow it.

Conclusion

The Ethics of Knowledge conference revealed both the promise and the complexity of testing within integrative healthcare. The field is advancing rapidly from gene mapping to microbiome sequencing, yet the human questions remain timeless: How do we use knowledge wisely? How do we ensure it serves healing, not anxiety?

As NCIM continues to bridge conventional and integrative medicine, this day served as a reminder that science and ethics must evolve hand-in-hand grounded always in compassion, context, and clinical wisdom.

If you’d like a chance to listen to this webinar or indeed watch the conference, these are all available on our membership for an incredible £4.99 a month: SIH – MEMBERSHIP – NCIM – National Centre for Integrative Medicine

If you’d like to know more about our next conference Health Coaching – Empowering Change, this is taking place online on 13 February 2026. NCIM Conference: Health Coaching: Empowering Change in Integrative Healthcare – NCIM – National Centre for Integrative Medicine

Dr Elizabeth Thompson