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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

Gabriel Torrens Gabriel Torrens Gabriel Torrens Gabriel Torrens
Researchers discover Achilles' heel of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria become more susceptible when transport to the cell wall is disrupted.

Närbild av provrörställ med mikrocentrifugrör. En hand ska just till att lyfta upp ett av rören ur stället.
Tiny proteins in the spotlight at a Nobel Symposium in Umeå

Leading researchers gather in Umeå for a Nobel Symposium on microproteins, tiny proteins with important roles.

Left: Carla M. BrunnerRight: Ajay Poonia
Metamaterials make the unexpected possible

Who has not dreamed of an invisibility cloak? The potential of metamaterials inspires researchers worldwide.

Robin FåhraeusProfessor vid Institutionen för medicinsk biovetenskap
New strategy targets one of cancer research's toughest challenges

By disrupting the genetic instructions that produce c-Myc, researchers can slow the growth of cancer cells.

Bild på glaciär som tränger ned mellan två bergssidor
A few minutes of freezing can change the fate of iron in nature

Ice is not a passive freezer, it affects iron minerals in a warmer climate with frequent freeze-thaw-cycles.

Bild i laboratoriet: George Westmeijer med sina handledare Johan Wikner och Linda sandblad
Tiny microbes give big insights into the Baltic Sea

In an interdisciplinary project, George Westmeijer is building an image library of microbes in the Baltic Sea.

Lab work
New study maps how gut bacteria shape each other's growth.

Large-scale mapping reveals the hidden interactions that shape gut microbial life.

NUS
Northern Sweden’s cancer care closer to international quality accreditation

The Organisation of European Cancer Institutes gives green light for the next phase: an on-site review visit.

Hand som håller en spurta med TBE vaccin.
Knowledge alone is not enough: Many outdoor workers remain unprotected against TBE

Vaccine accessibility, cost, and employer support may be just as important as knowledge of the disease.

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.

Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine

WCMM strives to enable excellent molecular and translational research

Latest update: 2025-09-18