James Wilson is Professor of Philosophy at UCL, where he is also co-director of the Health Humanities Centre.

His research uses philosophy to help resolve practical problems, and also uses practical problems to investigate gaps and weaknesses in existing philosophical theories. He has published widely on public health ethics and health policy, and also on the ownership and governance of ideas and information.

His book Philosophy for Public Health and Public Policy: Beyond the Neglectful State was published in 2021 by Oxford University Press. Among other advisory roles, he is a member of the National Data Guardian’s Panel, of the Faculty of Public Health’s Ethics Committee, and was a member of the Ethics Advisory Group for the NHS COVID-19 App.