Tahmeed Ahmed

Tahmeed Ahmed is a Bangladeshi Scientist with a particular research focus on Gastroenterology, Public Health Nutrition, and Global Health. He is a physician by training with specialization in treating patients with cholera and diarrheal diseases as well as maternal and childhood malnutrition. He has been serving as the Executive Director of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDRB) since February 1, 2021. He is the first Bangladeshi to serve in the role.

Dr. Ahmed is also working as a Professor of Public Health Nutrition in the James P. Grant School of Public Health at BRAC University. He is an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Global Health at University of Washington. He is also chair of the drafting committee of Bangladesh's nutrition policy.

Life Dr. Ahmed's father was an economist who died while he was a child. His mother encouraged him to pursue a career in medicine. He was an in-service trainee majoring in internal medicine at the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital from 1983 to 1984.

Dr. Ahmed is an Editorial Board Member in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. He was recognized as Goalkeepers Champion by the Gates Foundation in 2024. In 2025, he was named among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in health, recognized for his contributions to maternal and child health, nutrition, and evidence-based health solutions in resource-limited settings.

He also serves on the International Advisory Board of The Lancet Primary Care.

Notable works

Development of a ready-to-use supplementary food made from locally available food ingredients in Bangladesh Development of Microbiota-directed Therapeutic Food (MDCF)

Awards

2025 - TIME100 Health 2025 2024 - Gates Foundation Goalkeepers Award for Nutrition 2024 - 48th Gopalan Memorial Oration Gold Medal 2024 - Public Health Excellence Award by the Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh 2018 - Islamic Development Bank Transformers’ Roadshow Award 2007 - Development Market Place Award 2007 from the World Bank 2003 - Dr Sultan Ahmed Choudhury Gold Medal Award from Bangladesh Academy of Sciences