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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

Rebecca Wiberg
Preventive Surgery Safe for Women with Hereditary Risk of Breast Cancer

Low risk of both subsequent breast cancer and surgical complication, new study shows.

Aftab Nadeem, forskare på Institutionen för molekylärbiologi vid Umeå universitet, vid dator
Researchers turn soil bacterial protein into potent cancer cell killer

Researchers in Umeå show how a modified bacterial protein disables cancer cells in a new way.

Anna Överby Wernstedt
New research reveals cell proteins that drive severe viral infections

Two cell proteins determine how TBE virus, West Nile virus, and dengue virus replicate.

Porträtt på Jörgen Johansson som håller i sin bok
On antibiotics and the inevitable rise of resistance – new popular science book

Antibiotics transformed healthcare and Jörgen Johansson explores the threat of resistance and paths forward.

Andreas Josefsson
The SPRINTR study receives 12 million

SPRINTR recieves 12 million kronor through the National Board of Health and Welfare.

Läkare med patient.
SPRINTR launches a consent solution

An electronic consent solution for research participants developed at Umeå University.

virusfabrik avbildad med kryo elektrontomografi
Three-dimensional microscopy reveals how tick-borne virus replicates

New insights how the virus is assembled and matures, which may be important for future treatments for TBE.

två provrör
The protein that helps cancer cells survive treatment

Inhibits the process that normally causes cancer cells to die.

Oliver BillkerProfessor vid Institutionen för molekylärbiologiEnhet: Grupp Oliver BillkerAnknuten som forskare till Molekylär Infektionsmedicin, Sverige (MIMS)Roll: Föreståndare
Oliver Billker awarded the Torgny och Lena Stigbrand Prize

Receives the award for his pioneering work in malaria research.

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