UK’s Dan Han to speak on global health, flavor neuroscience at prestigious Aspen IDEAS: Health

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 18, 2025) – Dan Han, Psy.D., chief of neuropsychology at UK HealthCare and professor of neurology, neurosurgery, and physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, has been selected as a featured panelist for the 2025 Aspen IDEAS: Health conference — one of the world’s most influential platforms for health and innovation dialogue. Han is an internationally recognized leader in the emerging field of neurogastronomy.

Later this month, Han will speak on a panel titled “The Neuroscience of Flavor: Food, Brain, and Global Health,” alongside distinguished colleagues Rachel Herz, Ph.D., of Brown University and Uma Naidoo, M.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital. The panel will delve into how flavor perception and brain function shape our relationship with food and what that means for global health, sustainability and policy.

“The focus of my presentation will be the neuroscience of global health and sustainable food systems,” Han said. “I hope to help the public understand the intricate connections between specific food demand, supply chains, global health and sustainability for our species.”

Neurogastronomy, which examines how the brain interprets flavor and how this impacts health, has increasingly gained traction as a bridge between neuroscience, culinary arts and public health. Han’s work in the field has contributed to innovations in patient care, especially for individuals whose ability to experience food is altered by illness or treatment.

“People often think of flavor as just a sensory experience,” Han said. “But it’s a deeply neurological process — one that ties into memory, emotion and survival. Restoring or enhancing that experience can be a powerful part of healing.”

For Han, speaking at Aspen is more than a personal achievement — it’s an opportunity to elevate a growing scientific movement.

“Having neurogastronomy highlighted on a stage like Aspen IDEAS: Health represents an important step in advancing this interdisciplinary science into the global policy and innovation space,” he said. “The health policies that can emerge from this work have the potential to truly benefit humankind.”

While the honor is significant, Han emphasized the importance of the message over the spotlight.

“My immediate reaction was to prioritize and prepare a responsible message — one that can contribute meaningfully and add value to the public,” he said. “The invitation is humbling, but it is only a platform.”

Han also recognized the colleagues and collaborators who have advanced the field alongside him, many of whom are affiliated with the University of Kentucky.

“There are many others worldwide who deserve recognition,” he said. “At UK, our efforts are led by leaders such as Tim McClintock from the College of Medicine, Bob Perry from the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Kelsey Rahenkamp from UK HealthCare, native Kentuckian and chef Wyatt Sarbacker, and UK alum and celebrated chef Ouita Michel. It is an honor to represent our collective efforts at a national and international think tank.”

The Aspen Institute, founded in 1949, is a global nonprofit that fosters leadership and solutions on critical issues through dialogue and action. Aspen IDEAS: Health regularly features leaders shaping the future of health — including past speakers like Nobel laureates Jennifer Doudna and Murray Gell-Mann, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and tech innovators like OpenAI’s Sam Altman.

One of this year’s speakers is Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space, who is a personal hero of Han’s. Others scheduled at this year’s conference include former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, Director of the National Institutes of Health Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya and Vice President of Health at Apple Sumbul Desai.

“To be part of that legacy, and to represent UK’s growing role in shaping health innovation, is truly meaningful,” said Han.