Department of Medicine and Life Sciences at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (MELIS-UPF)

A María de Maeztu unit since 2016

A María de Maeztu unit since 2015
The Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS) at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) seamlessly integrates research and teaching to drive the creation and transfer of knowledge in biomedicine. Our core mission is fundamentally anchored in the pursuit of research excellence and continuous innovation in education.

MELIS-UPF’s research is strongly centered in the biomedical sciences, focusing on high-impact scientific output. The Department currently hosts 41 research groups structured across four strategic research programs: Biology of Disease; Molecules, Genes, and Cells; Systems Biology and Biomedical Engineering; and Populations and Ecosystems. This powerful, collaborative structure has driven our success and high scientific visibility, most notably earning us the distinction of being recognized as a
María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence in three calls.

Beyond our research contributions, MELIS-UPF is a leading provider of advanced education, committed to training the next generation of professionals. We offer five Bachelor’s degrees and five specialized Master’s degrees, complemented by a highly competitive PhD Program in Biomedicine. This doctoral program is delivered entirely in English and has a strong international profile in terms of both its student body and
teaching staff, reflecting and reinforcing our global standing.

Key Facts of Department of Medicine and Life Sciences at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (MELIS-UPF)

146 Published Articles
82 % of these publications, in Q1 journals.
7 ERC Grants
Number of ongoing ERC Grants (1 Advanced, 2 Synergy, 3 Consolidator, and 1 Starting).
44% International Ph.D. Students
MELIS-UPF has its own PhD program in Biomedicine, with supervisors from 10 different institutions.
6 EU Patents
Number priority patents applications filed.
Our 2014 and 2018 MdM programs allowed MELIS to evolve into a more multidisciplinary research department where biological science and biotechnology are intertwined. This transformation has enabled an advance toward the applicability of research outputs, resulting not only in high-quality publications but also in successful knowledge transfer. For example, in 2024, MELIS researchers obtained prestigious international projects from the Innovative Health Initiative, EIC Accelerator program, as well as a ERC Synergy grant, and there were 7 ongoing ERC grants. With our third MdM award, our strategic goal is to sustain this level of excellence while increasing our international profile and global impact.
Olga Valverde
Director at MELIS