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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
Collaboration with industry: 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

Matthias Siewert vid en drönare
Subtle changes in the Arctic landscape revealed from above

Matthias Siewert's drone images reveal how climate change is redrawing – centimetre by centimetre.

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.

Några personer i fjällnatur.
More methane as Arctic lakes warm

A warmer and wetter climate leads to more methane being released from sediments.

Nasim Sabouri lab
DNA folding more important for cell function than previously thought

The discovery reveals DNA's active role in cells and gives new possibilities to study cancer and diabetes.

Carlos Hernandez Ortego
Carlos wins European best poster prize in great competition

The prize validates the research, showcases communication skills, and boosts academic prospects.

Jan oscarsson
Jan researches the role of bacteria in periodontal disease

Using cell and molecular biological methods, how periodontitis can be detected early and treated is studied.

Nadeem UllahPostdoktor vid Institutionen för klinisk mikrobiologisamt Constantin UrbanProfessor vid Institutionen för klinisk mikrobiologiEnhet: Immunologi, Avdelningen för infektion och immunologi
Researchers uncover how immune cells use zinc to fight infections — challenging long-held beliefs

The reseachers show that immune cells drain microbes of zinc, making them more vulnerable.

Postdoc  Alef dos Santos, student assistant Frida Folkesson Ragnebrandt, PhD student Zoe Asimaki, postdoc Surendra Vikram Singh, and group leader Merve Yeşilbaş
Life at the limits: Meet the lab that hunts for life on Mars

Microorganisms are exposed to UV, cold, and high salinity. The goal? To find biosignatures on Mars.

Fyra fötter sticker fram under täcke
Gonorrhoea is spreading and outsmarting antibiotics

Tomas Gustafsson's experiences with patient encounters led him to research new antibiotic candidates.

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