Prof. Chris van Tulleken is a doctor, scientist, broadcaster, and bestselling author whose work explores the intersection of medicine, public health, and the environment. He is an Associate Professor at University College London in the Division of Infection and Immunity, specializing in infectious diseases and global health. Alongside his twin brother, Dr. Xand van Tulleken, he has become a well-known face in science communication, bringing complex medical and scientific issues to the public through television, radio, podcasts, and books.

In 2023, Chris’s 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 widespread debate about the role of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in modern diets. The book has been praised for its rigorous research and accessible storytelling, leading to increased public awareness of the impact of UPFs on health and policy discussions on food regulation.

Chris and Xand launched their first podcast, A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand, in the summer of 2021. The series quickly topped podcast charts, with the first season following Xand’s journey into the world of ultra-processed food, where he explored its addictive qualities under Chris’s guidance. In the second series, launched in 2022, they examined whether and how people can change their habits and behaviors.

Their unique ability to combine entertainment with science has led to numerous successful TV projects. In 2019, they presented Twinsitute for BBC Two, an experiment-driven series where they and 30 other identical twin pairs tested competing health theories. 

Chris’s concerns about antibiotic resistance and the overuse of prescription medications led him to create The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs for BBC One in 2017. The series, which resonated strongly with audiences, was followed by a second installment in 2018, focusing on children and their medication use. Continuing his investigative work, Chris explored the effects of ultra-processed foods on children in the acclaimed BBC One documentary What Are We Feeding Our Kids?

In 2017, he also presented The Truth About... HIV, a BBC One documentary featuring support from HRH Prince Harry and Sir Elton John, aiming to challenge misconceptions and raise awareness about the virus.

Chris and Xand are also the presenters of CBBC's Operation Ouch, the double BAFTA and Broadcast Award-winning CBBC series that teaches children about human biology. Now in its 13th series, the show continues to inspire young audiences worldwide. Their Operation Ouch Live stage show has played to sold-out audiences in London’s West End and Australia.

Beyond broadcasting, Chris has worked as a doctor in some of the world’s harshest environments, including Arctic expeditions and remote jungle regions - Medicine Men Go Wild (2008) saw him and Xand examine the limitations of Western medicine in remote locations.

Chris’s contributions to science and public health have been widely recognized. In 2016, he won the Max Perutz Award for his research on HIV.  He became an infection and global health professor at UCLH in 2025.