NMI Webinar
From DNA to Dinner Plate: Applying Nutrigenomics to Personalised Nutrition
with Dr. Denise Furness
Date: Tuesday 24th February 2026
Time: 10am (GMT)
Location: Online (Zoom)
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) approved by the CPD Certification Service (CPD UK), the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and the Nutritional Therapists of Ireland (NTOI).
Webinar description:
Nutrition advice is traditionally delivered through population-level guidelines, yet individual responses to diet vary widely. Nutrigenomics provides a framework to understand this variability by examining how genetic differences influence metabolism, nutrient processing, and dietary response, allowing for more personalised nutrition strategies.
This presentation will explore key genetic pathways and variations that influence lipid metabolism, carbohydrate response, weight regulation, and micronutrient processing, and how these insights can be applied responsibly in clinical practice. Examples will include genes associated with body weight regulation and macronutrient responsiveness (such as FTO), glucose metabolism and carbohydrate handling (including TCF7L2 and related pathways), and lipid transport and sensitivity to dietary fat (for example APOE, APOA2, and APOA5). The role of micronutrient-related genes will also be discussed, including folate metabolism (MTHFR), vitamin A conversion (BCMO1), vitamin B12 transport (TCN2), as well as selected antioxidant and inflammation-related genes that may influence dietary pattern recommendations.
Rather than interpreting individual genetic variants in isolation, this session will emphasise the importance of assessing patterns of genetic susceptibility across related biological pathways, integrated with phenotype, dietary intake, cultural preferences, lifestyle factors, and biochemical markers. Practical examples will demonstrate how grouping functionally related genes can support more nuanced dietary guidance, particularly in relation to macronutrient balance, dietary fat quality, fibre intake, and micronutrient priorities.
The presentation will conclude with a discussion of the current strength and limitations of nutrigenomic evidence, highlighting where genotype-informed dietary advice can be meaningfully integrated into practice today, and where caution and further research are still required.
Learning objectives:
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Understand how common genetic variations influence individual responses to macronutrients, including carbohydrates, fats, and protein, and how this impacts weight regulation and metabolic health.
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Identify key genetic variations associated with micronutrient metabolism and requirements, and understand how these may influence nutrient status and dietary priorities.
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Explain the importance of interpreting genetic variants within biological pathways, considering how functionally related SNPs interact rather than being assessed in isolation.
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Integrate nutrigenomic insights into a broader clinical and lifestyle context, incorporating dietary patterns, lifestyle factors, and individual preferences to support personalised nutrition strategies.
Speaker
Dr. Denise Furness, PhD
Dr. Denise Furness PhD is a pioneer in the field of nutrigenomics and personalised health with almost 20 years’ experience in the area. She has published her work in peer reviewed journals and has won numerous awards for her research and conference presentations. In 2012, she founded Your Genes and Nutrition and began applying her knowledge in private practice. Denise provides education for health practitioners drawing on her own clinical trials, the latest evidence-based research, as well as government and peak health body guidelines in relation to nutrigenomics, lifestyle, and environmental medicine.
Denise previously worked in the fitness industry and is a certified in various modalities ranging from Tai chi to HIIT style training. Combining these unique skills she aims to help patients overcome health challenges, improve quality of life and reduce the burden of disease.
The contents of NMI Webinars are for educational purposes and intended for health professionals. This information is not a substitution for standard medical care. Health professionals are solely responsible for the care and treatment provided to their own patients.