Clinical Professor
Co-Lead, African Diaspora Centre for Healthy Urban Futures (UrbanBetter Academy @ Cambridge)
Group Lead, Global Public Health
Current work and interests
Tolullah (Tolu) Oni is Clinical Professor and Chair of Global Public Health and Sustainable Urban Development at the University of Cambridge. A public health physician and urban epidemiologist, her research examines how urban systems and environments shape population health and health equity, particularly in rapidly growing cities. With over 100 academic publications, her work focuses on the intersections between urbanisation, climate change and health, including extreme heat, air pollution, active mobility and the built environment.
Since joining IMS Epidemiology in 2018, she has led a transdisciplinary programme of research developing and testing approaches that connect evidence with urban policy and practice, with a particular focus on African cities. She led the Global Diet and Activity Research Group and Network until 2025. In 2026, she established and now co-leads the African Diaspora Centre for Healthy Urban Futures, which builds equitable research, training and knowledge partnerships connecting Cambridge with institutions and expertise across Africa and the global African diaspora. She also co-leads the Global Health theme of the MPhil in Population Health Sciences at Cambridge. Her current research includes programmes examining air pollution, heat, health and active mobility.
Alongside her academic role, Tolu is Founder and CEO of UrbanBetter, an Africa-led global institute that strengthens the systems shaping climate and health outcomes in rapidly growing cities. UrbanBetter works with young people, communities, researchers and city authorities to generate locally relevant evidence, strengthen urban leadership and translate knowledge into decisions and action. This work provides an applied platform through which research is tested, adapted and mobilised to support healthier, more climate-resilient urban futures.
Background and experience
Tolu trained in medicine at University College London and undertook postgraduate medical training in the UK (MRCP(UK)) and Australia. She subsequently spent 11 years conducting research and completing her public health medicine specialist training (FCPHM (SA)) in South Africa. She completed a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at the University of Cape Town and a research doctorate in Clinical Epidemiology at Imperial College London.
Professional memberships and roles
Tolu is a Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge and an Honorary Professor in Public Health at the University of Cape Town. She is a Fellow of the International Science Council and the African Academy of Sciences, and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. She has served on international scientific and advisory bodies and contributed to global academic and policy discussions on urban health, planetary health and sustainable development.