Chris van Tulleken Keynote Speaker

Prof. Chris van Tulleken is a medical doctor, scientist, broadcaster and bestselling author whose work explores the intersection of medicine, public health, and the environment.

He is Professor of Infection and Global Health at University College London Hospitals, where he specialises in infectious diseases and global health. With his twin brother, Dr. Xand van Tulleken, he has become one of the UK’s most popular and trusted voices in science communication, translating complex medical issues for audiences worldwide through television, radio, podcasts, and books.

Chris’s 2023 book Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food… and Why Can’t We Stop? became a critical and commercial success, topping bestseller lists and sparking international debate on diet, food systems, and health. In 2025, it was shortlisted for the inaugural £10,000 Unwin Award for non-fiction. He is also co-author of Operation Ouch!: The HuManual and Secrets of the Human Body, bringing science to younger audiences in engaging and accessible ways.

His broadcasting work includes acclaimed BBC documentaries such as The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs, What Are We Feeding Our Kids?, The Truth About… HIV (with support from HRH Prince Harry and Sir Elton John), and Twinsitute. With Xand, he co-hosts the double BAFTA-winning children’s series Operation Ouch! (now in its 13th series), its sell-out stage shows in London’s West End and Australia, and the chart-topping BBC podcast A Thorough Examination.

Beyond the screen, Chris has worked as a doctor in some of the world’s harshest environments, from Arctic expeditions to remote jungles. His research on HIV earned him the Max Perutz Award in 2016, and his investigative work continues to influence public health policy, particularly in nutrition, antibiotic resistance, and child health.