About our charity
Our charity’s objectives are to protect, preserve and promote better health, wellbeing and quality of life for people of any age diagnosed with any form of cancer and their families or carers. We specifically focus on providing integrative oncology care and supporting integrative oncology education and research.
As defined by the Society for Integrative Oncology, integrative oncology is a patient-centred, evidence-informed approach to cancer care that combines conventional treatments with mind-body practices, lifestyle modifications, and natural products to improve overall well-being and quality of life. It focuses on addressing symptoms, improving resilience, and optimising the overall treatment experience.
Dr Penny Kechagioglou
Chairperson of the NCIO Board of Trustees
Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel
CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of NCIO
Our next fundraiser
Support our CEO, Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel, and her daughter Evelyn on their Kilimanjaro trek
Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel and her daughter, Evelyn (age 12), are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania 17th-26th July 2026 to raise money for the National Centre for Integrative Oncology (NCIO).
A personal story from our CEO:
Evelyn was only three and a half when I was diagnosed with grade 3 stage 2 HER2 positive breast cancer. Together we have made it through 6 months of chemo, 2 surgeries and a year of anti-HER2 treatment with a temporary chemically induced menopause to boot. She has seen first hand how integrative oncology has supported me and the huge difference it makes to my patients. I am fortunate to be taking this challenge on with my daughter to help improve equitable access to integrative oncology care in the UK.
Evelyn is raising money for the children, teens and families department at NCIO, aiming to provide a nurse-led helpline with additional 1:1 nutrition and rehabilitation telehealth support available to any family who have a child diagnosed with cancer in the UK. I am raising money for the adult integrative oncology department and our GRiT Centre, aiming to build our multidisciplinary workforce across psycho-oncology, lifestyle and integrative medicine, and complementary therapies to support adults at any point in their cancer care.
Through our climb Evelyn and I will face one of nature's most demanding journeys, trekking through five distinct ecosystems, from equatorial rainforest to alpine desert and finally an arctic summit, all in a matter of days. The mountain rises nearly 4,900 metres from its base, and every step upward means less oxygen, plummeting temperatures, and terrain that tests both body and mind. It has been said that those who make it to Uhuru Peak do so through sheer determination. This same determination is what drives me and Evelyn to raise funds for a cause so close to our hearts, both personally and professionally.
The NCIO team, Evelyn and I would very much appreciate your support for our Kilimanjaro challenge. Every donation makes the climb count for something greater.
You can donate via this page or for bigger donations or corporate support please do contact the NCIO or me directly for our charity’s bank details.
Our annual conference in Oxford
Our Departments
Adult Integrative Oncology
Paediatric (Children and Teens) Integrative Oncology
NCIO is building a medically-led multidisciplinary integrative oncology service for adults, teens and children impacted by cancer and their families and carers. We will be aiming to provide equitable access to evidence-informed integrative oncology support to people living with and beyond cancer in the UK, through on-site and online programmes, supporting oncology care and improved quality of life. This will include an app-based service through partnering with the Oncio app, helpline support and 1:1 integrative medicine care, working in partnership with standard of care oncology providers, primary and secondary care, as well as other charitable organisations.
Growth and Resilience in Trauma (GRiT) Centre
The GRit Centre is headed up by Prof Nazanin Derakhshan. Our main activities plan to focus on:
Clinical integrative care to support post-traumatic growth and resilience in people with cancer and their carers and loved ones
Multidisciplinary research initiatives to look at practical implementation of integrative oncology programmes in this setting
Education and training for healthcare professionals in trauma-informed care
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Contact Us
Interested in volunteering for the charity, donating or partnering with us? Please complete this information, and we will be in touch shortly. We look forward to hearing from you!