Tolu Oni

Biography

Tolu Oni is a Public Health Physician Scientist and urban epidemiologist, a Clinical Senior Research associate with the University of Cambridge MRC Epidemiology Unit’s Global Public Health Research programme. She is also an Honorary Associate Professor in Public Health at the University of Cape Town, where she leads the Research Initiative for Cities Health and Equity (RICHE). Her research focuses on understanding health transition, and the epidemiology of the interaction between common chronic conditions and the unplanned urban environment. She has received several awards in recognition of her research contribution including the South African National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Emerging Researcher award, and the Carnegie Corporation “Next Generation of African Academics award.

She is a Next Einstein Forum Fellow, a 2019 World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, a Fellow of the African Academy of Science, and a member of the World Economic Forum Global Fourth Industrial Revolution Council on Precision Health. She serves on several scientific advisory committees including the International Science Council’s (ISC) Programme on Urban Health and Wellbeing; and Future Earth. She is an Editorial Board member of the Cities and Health journal, Lancet Planetary Health, and the Journal of Urban Health, and regularly acts as reviewer for many international peer-reviewed journals.

She aims to promote science and research as key drivers of development in Africa through a coordinated approach between science, policy and society role players, to identify creative strategies to address complex population health and broader societal challenges.

She was co-chair of the Global Young Academy 2017-19 and co-chair of the South African Young Academy of Science 2014-16.

Awards