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Life science

Image: Malin Grönborg

Life science is the study of biological life and living organisms. It is a very broad field of study, fundamentally based on chemistry and biology.

Life science encompasses everything from diseases to how we function, as well as our interaction with nature and all its components. Here in Umeå, we have been conducting life science-related research since the university was founded, with a focus on molecular and microbiology as well as chemistry.

One example of groundbreaking life science research at Umeå University is the discovery of the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9, for which Emmanuelle Charpentier was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020.

The Life Science News Council is responsible for this website.

Collaboration with industry

"Collaboration with industry" is an article series that highlights the collaborations between Umeå researchers and life science companies. This is the second article in the series, that's written by the News council in life science.
Bild på Mikael Elofsson
Research collaboration with AstraZeneca provides insights into virus infections

Umeå professor Mikael Elofsson has collaborated with the global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca since 2018.

Magnus Wolf-Watz, professor vid Kemiska institutionen, Umeå universitet.
Collaboration with biotechnology company opens new doors for Umeå chemist

Vacona's need for structural biology expertise coincided with Magnus' research group's ambition with Cryo-EM.

Latests news in life science at Umeå university

Catherine BelliniUmeå Plant Science Centre
Catherine Bellini receives the Roséns Linnaeus Prize in Botany

She received the prize for her research and her commitment to promoting international collaboration.

Närbild på fyra petriskålar med jästceller, noggrant uppmärkta.
Of mice and (wo)men and molecules – at the forefronts of research on anorexia nervosa

At Umeå University, a multi-front battle is underway to combat anorexia nervosa.

Johan Trygg, Professor at the Department of Chemistry
Johan Trygg elected member of science academy

Chemistry professor represents Umeå University in the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, IVA.

En kvinna med långt blont hår står i snön.
MIMS Spotlight Series: Louise meets Sanja Vanhatalo

Meet Sanja Vanhatalo, a postdoc in Björn Schröder's lab who studies microbiota and inflammatory bowel disease.

Biträdande universitetslektor vid Kemiska institutionen
Umeå researchers aim to reveal how viruses build their factories

Max Renner explore how viruses copy themselves – to help stop future outbreaks.

Anne-Marie Fors Connolly
Critical Microbes: Building a national infection research infrastructure inspired by Denmark

Infection researcher Anne-Marie Fors Connolly receives SEK 500,000 in investment funds from the Alf Committee.

cancercell
Calcium-sensitive switch boosts the efficacy of cancer drugs

The researchers' goal is more precise target drugs with lower doses and less impact on healthy tissue.

Niklas Arnberg, professor vid Institutionen för klinisk mikrobiologi, Umeå universitet.
New influenza variant could make the winter season extra demanding

"The classic flu symptoms can become more pronounced with this variant", says Professor Niklas Arnberg.

Harshit MalhotraPostdoctoral position at Department of Chemistry
Develops new tools for synthetic biology

Harshit Malhotra's research aims to use special tools to control the cellular processes of bacteria.

Students standing around the teacher in a lab, the teacher shows different tools to be used. Some students take notes.

Curious about studying Life Science?

The Bachelor’s programme in Life Science focuses on life, bridging chemistry and biology to explore living systems. The teachers have close links to outstanding research in areas such as microbiology, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, infectious medicine, and plant and forest biotechnology.

Learn more about the programme here.

Study both chemistry and molecular biology

The Life Science programme builds the basis and during the third year you specialize in chemistry or molecular biology.

 

Organisations within life science at Umeå university

Coalition Umeå for Life Science (CU4LS)

An initiative to improve visibility of Umeå life science research activities nationally and internationally

Chemical Biological Centre (KBC)

An interdisciplinary research centre in life/natural science and medicine at UMU and SLU

Del av jordklotet. Europa sett från rymden med atmosfär och moln.
The European CBRNE Center

Learn more about the European CBRNE Center at Umeå university

SciLifeLab logo
SciLifeLab Site Umeå

SciLifeLab national site at Umeå (UMU and SLU) is a local site of the national SciLifeLab network.

Umeå center for functional brain imaging

UFBI is an inter-disciplinary research center using imaging techniques to examine the brain.

Dykare mäter växter på en havsbotten.
Umeå Marine Sciences Centre

UMF is a dynamic environment for marine research including a complete suite of analytical platforms.

UCMR logga
Umeå Centre for Microbial Research UCMR

UCMR is a Linnaeus Centre of Excellence promoting cutting-edge microbial research at Umeå University.

Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM)

UCMM is an interdisciplinary research centre

Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine

WCMM strives to enable excellent molecular and translational research

Latest update: 2025-09-18