Bahar Genetics
At the 2023 BC Naturopathic Doctors (BCND) Conference, Bahar Genetics launched an educational initiative focused on genetic privacy and the responsible use of direct-to-consumer genetic testing in healthcare.
The initiative began with a concern identified by Bahar Genetics founder Nilou Noursadeghi: healthcare practitioners were increasingly offering private-pay genetic services, including consumer-directed tests such as 23andMe, while patients might not fully understand the privacy risks, interpretive limitations, and potential future uses of their genetic information.
To explore this issue, Bahar Genetics hosted an informational table at the conference and engaged directly with more than 100 practitioners offering or interested in genetic services. These conversations highlighted important gaps in awareness surrounding genetic data privacy, limitations in test interpretation, and the responsible communication of genetic results.
The initiative was supported by two volunteer Canadian-certified genetic counsellors—one a UBC graduate practicing in British Columbia and the other a University of Toronto graduate who travelled from Toronto to participate. Together, the team facilitated open, evidence-informed conversations about the benefits, limitations, and privacy considerations associated with genetic testing.
The importance of these conversations became even more apparent following the October 2023 23andMe data breach and subsequent concerns surrounding the security and future use of customers’ genetic information. These developments brought broader public attention to questions Bahar Genetics had already begun raising with healthcare practitioners: Who has access to genetic data? How might that information be used in the future? And are patients receiving enough information to make truly informed decisions?
This initiative reflects Bahar Genetics’ commitment to advancing genomic literacy and promoting the informed, ethical, and privacy-conscious use of genetic technologies in healthcare.
Following the insights gained at the BC Naturopathic Doctors (BCND) Conference, where the Bahar Genetics team spoke with over 100 practitioners offering genetic services such as 23andMe, it became clear that there were significant concerns regarding the responsible use, interpretation, and privacy of genetic data. Many practitioners were unaware of the risks associated with offering direct-to-consumer tests without the involvement of certified genetic professionals. These concerns prompted action.
In response, Bahar Genetics organized a free educational webinar titled “Enhancing Patient Care Through Reliable Genetic Services” to address these gaps. The event was hosted online and promoted through direct outreach to over 100 naturopathic leads across British Columbia. The goal was to provide accessible, informative content that would help clinicians better understand the strengths and limitations of genetic testing, all within an ethical and privacy-conscious framework.
The webinar featured expert-led sessions, including:
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Genetics 101: Back to Basics
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Tech Talk: SNP Arrays vs. Sequencing
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Preventative Care for Healthy Individuals
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Precision Medicine in Oncology
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Genetic Testing Overview and Clinical Use Cases
Speakers included:
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Hana Sroka, Regional Manager at Invitae and Clinical Instructor at UBC
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Nasim Monfared, Chief Operational Officer of Bahar Genetics and Genomic Scientist
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Dr. Zia Poonja, Medical Oncologist, BC Cancer
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Dr. Faisal Masood Khan, Director, Hematology Translational Lab, University of Calgary
📄 Download the full agenda (PDF)
This webinar reinforced Bahar Genetics’ mission to promote responsible genomic education and empower providers with knowledge to offer genetic testing safely, ethically, and effectively.
At the 24th Annual Healthcare Summit, held October 28–29, 2024, in Vancouver, Nilou Noursadeghi, Director of Bahar Genetics Inc., was invited to speak on a featured panel titled “Longevity and the Focus on Personalized Medicine and Precision Health (Gene Therapies).” The panel was moderated by Suzanne Gill, President & CEO of Genome BC, and brought together thought leaders in precision health, including Dr. Terri Petkau (Polymorphic BioSciences Inc.). The conversation explored the transformative role of genomics and artificial intelligence in extending healthspan, advancing gene therapies, and reimagining individualized care.
Nilou’s invitation to this panel was a direct continuation of her prior work and public advocacy. From uncovering critical gaps in genetic literacy at the BC Naturopathic Doctors Conference to leading an educational webinar with Canadian-certified genetic counsellors, her efforts have consistently emphasized responsible, privacy-conscious, and accessible genomic education.
These experiences, along with her contributions as a speaker and consultant for Reboot Communications’ 2023 and 2024 conferences, positioned her as a key voice in the intersection of genomic innovation, data privacy, and ethical healthcare delivery. Reboot Communications is a globally recognized firm that, for over fifteen years, has produced conferences in partnership with government agencies and international corporations on privacy, security, biometrics, digital health, and emerging technologies such as genomics.
Her presence at the Healthcare Summit reflects Bahar Genetics’ growing impact on national conversations around the responsible integration of genetic services into mainstream care, and the importance of ensuring those services remain equitable, ethical, and informed.
Drawing from her role as Director of Bahar Genetics and her academic background in Genome Science and Technology at UBC, Nilou Noursadeghi designed and delivered a guest lecture to over 100 undergraduate students. The session introduced foundational topics in cancer genomics, the ethical dimensions of genetic testing, and the complexities of applying precision medicine in real-world clinical settings. By blending scientific insight with personal and professional experience, she aimed to inspire the next generation of students to think critically about the intersection of genomics, equity, and public health.
Becoming a physician has been Nilou’s dream since childhood, shaped by a close-knit family of doctors and her deep-seated commitment to service. Now in the process of applying to medical school, she is eager to bring her passion for genomic education, patient advocacy, and health privacy into the clinical sphere. As a future physician, she hopes to play a more direct role in ensuring that advancements in medicine remain ethical, accessible, and centered around those who need them most.
My mother’s journey showed me what was missing.
Bahar Genetics was created to fill that gap.
