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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.

Latests news in life science at Umeå university

Václava Hazuková, cellting water samples from an Arctic lake.
Peering through the ice to uncover the secrets of Arctic lakes

Václava Hazuková, KBC-Kempe postdoc, researches carbon storage in Arctic lakes.

Fästing kryper på hud
TBE detected in Västerbotten County – new study examines virus spread

Smaller study expanded to include more locations and investigate whether people have been exposed.

En kvinna sitter på en bänk i snön
The protein that helps plants survive the cold

New thesis deepens understanding of plant resilience in cold climates.

Gruppledarna står uppradade på en trappa och blir fotograferade
SciLifeLab site Umeå celebrates 16 new Group Leaders

SciLifeLab site Umeå celebrates 16 new Group Leaders with cake and a get-together.

Läkare undersöker patient
Infectious disease specialists most exposed during the pandemic

Infectious disease doctors became significantly more infected than other doctors during the pandemic.

Open up for Innovation 2025
100 Life Science experts gather to connect science and industry in Umeå

The conference aims to promote collaboration between academia and industry and drive innovation.

The researchers are standing in a narrow white room, with high shelfs of small, green plants in containers. They are holding the flower of on of the plants and studying it closely.
Scientists unlock one of the toughest biomaterials and find clues to pollen's expiration date

By opening up pollen grains, a technique developed in Umeå, scientists found clues to pollen's expiration date

Ett barn fyller på ett glas mjölk i en skolmatsal.
Super-sensitive method finds bacteria spores in food and hospitals

Resistant spores can cause food poisoning and infections via, for example, dairy products.

Johan Henriksson lab
New knowledge about cell division with data-driven techniques

Improved resolution promotes advanced cell analysis, especially in cases of abnormal cell division in cancer.

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.

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.

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: 2025-03-11