ANDMEDICINESCIENCESANDMEDICINESCIENCESANDMEDICINELIFELIFELIFE FACTS FIGURESAND
The Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) hosts one of the largest hubs of biomedical research in southern Europe
As a universitypublic , UPF fulfils its commitment to tackling the major challenges of the 21st century by leadership.andoftheknowledgemultidisciplinarytransferringtransmittingcreating,andnewtoguideimplementationdiscerningpoliciesinspiring
In the 2021-2022 academic year, UPF began teaching a new curriculum in the degree in Medicine. The programme has a syllabus fully adapted to the needs of medicine today and in the future, with a clear clinical leaning due to its integration with Hospital del Mar. Actually, one of its distinguishing features is its location in a privileged bio-health environment, formed by the Mar Campus, Hospital del Mar and the Barcelona Biomedical Research
In 2014 and 2018 the Department was awarded with the “María de Maeztu” Unit of Excellence. Likewise, both the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), UPFaffiliated research institutes, also obtained a “Severo Ochoa” distinction. Their aim is to accredit public research centres and units in any field in which they demonstrate scientific leadership and can have a global impact whilst at the same time actively collaborating in their social and business environment.
ThePark.Faculty completes its undergraduate offer with the bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and the bachelor’s degree in Bioinformatics. All the programmes are based on an innovative teaching methodology that combines small class sizes, problem-based learning, individual tutoring, an emphasis on practical an computational content and continuous assessment to deliver high-quality education.
In 1998 UPF started a degree programme in Biology, which in 2008 was adapted to become the bachelor’s degree in Human Biology. It has been a reference in the field from the beginning, obtaining a high number of awards for its innovative teaching and its orientation towards biomedical research.
— 33% of UPF graduates have studied abroad (2020-2021)*
programmes for postdoctoral and PhD researchers
Key figures
*Lower than usual because of the pandemic.
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TEACHING
— 39% of doctoral students are international (2021-2022)
— 19% of official master’s students are international (2021-2022)
The Department is located within the PRBB, a large scientific infrastructure housing several public research centres that is moreover physically connected to Barcelona’s Hospital del Mar, making it one of the largest biomedical research hubs in southern Europe. The seven centres located at the park conduct outstanding research in a wide variety of fields. Together, they provide a critical mass of 1,300 people from 45 different countries, a total R&D budget of approximately €80 M per year, and cutting-edge scientific equipment.
The research conducted at the Department of Medicine and Life Sciences is of utmost importance. In recent years, the Department has made a name for itself in a variety of research fields with a growing research output. Its members publish over 300 research articles a year, more than 80% in top-quartile journals. The Department has also proven increasingly able to secure competitive funding (see “Key figures” hasMoreover,below).theDepartmentbeenapioneerincreating
RESEARCH
— Internship agreements with nearly 90 companies, such as Esteve, Bayer, IDIBAPS and Vall d’Hebron
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Key figures
This research programme focuses on the molecules within cells, the interactions between them and the roles they play in the function of individual cells and living organisms. The programme spans a broad range of disciplines, including cell and molecular biology, physiology, genomics, microbiology, immunology, neurobiology and pathology.
3 Data as of January 2022.
— 5 spin-offs (2014-2020)
— ICREA research professors:4 8
— 14 industrial PhD projects funded by the Catalan government (2013-2021)
— 14 ICREA Acadèmia awards (2015-2021)
— Cell and Molecular Biology
— The research groups comprising the Systems Bioengineering Programme seek to acquire and interpret quantitative knowledge of biological processes using systems-level approaches and to use this knowledge to control and act upon cells and their environment. In pursuit of this vision, the SBE programme employs an interdisciplinary approach combining cell and molecular
— Horizon 2020:1 €19 million / 36 —projects3ERC grants
— International teaching staff:3 13%
— The Molecular Medicine Programme comprises several research groups with diverse, but overlapping scientific interests aimed at deciphering the molecular mechanisms that underlie physiological pathways and the diseases associated with them. Normal and pathological processes are studied from different disciplines (molecular biology, immunology, biochemistry, proteomics, and neurobiology) using single- and multicell model organisms. This enriched and diverse scientific environment and a superb spectrum of state-of-theart methodologies make the Molecular Medicine Programme an exceptional training ground for undergraduate students, postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows alike, who, in turn, contribute to the programme’s vitality.
— The Evolutionary Biology and Complex Systems Programme (EBCSP) is composed of different interdisciplinary groups focused on the study of the processes and mechanisms responsible for all aspects of the diversity of life, especially the ones related to its complexity. The research covers a wide range of natural and artificial elements from single genes, molecules, pathways, cells and genomes to organisms, populations, species and entire ecosystems.
— 9 Marie Curie actions
— The Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB) is a joint research programme of the IMIM-Hospital del Mar Research Institute and UPF. It conducts basic research and pursues sciences.methodstechnologyofdevelopmentstechnologicalintheapplicationadvancedinformationandcomputationalinthehealthandlife
Research programmes
— 2 Maria de accreditationMaeztu
1 Data refer to the 2014-2020 period only. They include individual and consortia projects.
— Theses defended in English: 93% (2020-2021)
4 The Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA) offers permanent tenured positions at Catalan host institutions to top researchers from around the world.
2 Data refer to the 2015-2021 period.
— 20 patents (2017-2021)
— The scientific goal of the Genetics and Neurosciences Programme (GNP) is to understand the genetic and molecular basis of the development, function and disease of the nervous system. The programme covers three main areas: geneticsophisticatedimaging,encompassingstudyadvancesTheneuropharmacology.cognitiveneurobiology,developmentalgeneticsoffunctions,andprogrammecombinestechniquestothenervoussystemadvancedgeneediting,behaviouraltests,manipulation.
— Spanish R&D and Innovation Plan:2 €10.7 million / 52 projects
— Pierre et Marie Curie (France)
AGREEMENTSINTERNATIONAL
— Bologna (Italy)
Science and society
systems biology, synthetic biology, computational and mathematical modelling, biophysics, biomaterials, and nanobiomedicine.
— The Transversal Programme comprises research groups focused on three areas: public health, education in health sciences, and science communication. On the one hand, it is involved in epidemiological research on occupational, environmental, and social health determinants and research to provide scientific knowledge that is relevant for public health action in order to reduce health inequalities. On the other hand, it conducts educational research in order to improve teaching’s quality in health and life sciences. Finally, this programme also aims to bring closer together society and science, conducting research and developing initiatives of science communication and public engagement.
— Tubingen & Bremen (Germany)
— Surrey & Leicester (United Kingdom)
— 1st university in Spain and 4th in Europe (U- Multirank, 2022)
The Department has a commitment to society and local community and has launched initiatives in order to align scientific excellence with social challenges and values through public dialogue like “La Facultat al Barri” and Scientific Cafes. It also aims at encouraging scientific vocations and fostering new talent for science and innovation through the organization of activities focused on young students.
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GLOBAL RANKINGS AND RESULTS BY SUBJECT 4
— Universidad de Antioquia
— 16th university in the world among universities aged 50 and under (Times Higher Education Young Universities Ranking, 2022)
— Linköping & Gothenburg (Sweden)
The many international joint projects and cross-border ties between research groups include, among others, Memorandums of Agreement between the Department and RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research and EMBL. Indeed, the Faculty’s master’s degree in Public Health has been awarded the quality label for internationalization by the Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency (AQU TheCatalunya).Faculty is committed to training globally competent professionals with a passion for research. In order to create mobility opportunities for its bachelor students, it has signed international exchange agreements with 49 partner universities in 18 countries Students can also expand the geographical scope of their mobility to the United States or Australia under universitywide agreements or go abroad for shorter periods of time via lab placements and internships. Some of the Faculty’s Erasmus+ partners include the following top universities in the field:
— Amsterdam & Radboud (the Netherlands)
UPFresearchtopipelineFacultyselectiveresearchers.studentsbeThemainlycandidatesInandnichereputationThe(Colombia)Faculty’sinternationalforresearchincertainareasalsoattractsjuniorseniorresearcherstoUPF.thisregard,39%ofitsPhDareinternational,fromelsewhereinEurope.samestrategyandtrendcanfoundamongpostdoctoralandmoreseniorAsaresultofitsrecruitmentpolicy,thehascreatedapromisingandsolidfoundationsfurtherinternationalizebothandtrainingactivities.appearsonsomeofthemost influential global rankings:
— 1st Spanish university, 156th worldwide and 69th in Europe (Times Higher Education ranking, 2022)
In the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, internationalization efforts have focused on research, particularly on European and international projects, and on creating a pool of talent.
— Among the top 200 in the world in human biological sciences (Shanghai ranking, 2021)
— The bachelor’s degree in Human Biology provides students with the skills and the knowledge required to become professionals in the health and biomedical sector. The degree enables graduates to work in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry, clinical laboratories, biomedical research or teaching.
— The bachelor’s degree in Medicine is characterized by a strong relationship between biomedical research and clinical practice and a unique location home to leading health facilities connected to Hospital del Mar and the PRBB.
— Among the top 100 in the world in biotechnology (Shanghai ranking, 2021)
All Medicine and Life Sciences degrees have AQU (Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency) and MCIU (Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities) accreditations.
— The bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering is an interdisciplinary programme that provides education in the fields of biomedicine, technology and biomedical computational modelling.
— Among the top 200 in the world in biological sciences (QS, 2022)
— The master’s degree in Bioinformatics for Health Sciences is designed to provide professionals with skills
MAIN OFFERACADEMIC
— 22th in the world in public health (Shanghai ranking, 2021)
— The primary objective of the master’s degree in Public Health is to enable students to understand health and disease processes and their determinants from the point of view of the population and address health issues by means of collective interventions to promote, protect and restore health.
— 80th in the world in cell biology (U.S. News & World Report, 2022)
The University also ranks high in health and life sciences:
— Among the top 200 in the world in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences (Shanghai ranking, 2021)
— The bachelor’s degree in Bioinformatics is an interuniversity programme (UPF, UB and UPC) that offers comprehensive education and training delivered through computing and science subjects with a solid grounding in biology.
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— The master’s degree in Biomedical Research focuses on the study of the molecular, cellular, physiological and evolutionary foundations of biological processes and their pathological or adaptive alterations. It is primarily aimed at students seeking to pursue doctoral studies in different areas of biomedicine.
— The master’s degree in Clinical Analysis Laboratory focuses on the application of laboratory techniques for clinical diagnosis and pre-symptomatic and predisposition testing.
— The master’s degree in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industry aims to provide students with training related to companies that carry out research on medicines and biotechnology products for preventing and treating human diseases.
and abilities geared towards the development of new computational strategies and IT systems for use in biomedical research.
— 66th in the world in molecular biology and genetics (U.S. News & World Report, 2022)
— A PhD programme in Biomedicine
— 20th in the world in public, environmental and occupational health (U.S. News & World Report, 2022)
— Among the top 75 in the world in biological sciences (Shanghai ranking, 2021)
— 167th in the world in neuroscience and behavior (U.S. News & World Report, 2022)
— 181th in the world in environment/ecology (U.S. News & World Report, 2022)
@UPFBarcelonaMore information: www.upf.edu/web/biomed Universitat Pompeu Fabra 1. Balmes building Balmes, 132 08008 Barcelona Tel. +34 93 542 18 00 3. Born building Pg. Pujades, 1 08003 Barcelona Tel. +34 93 295 47 10 5. Ciutadella Campus Ramon Trias Fargas, 25–27 08005 Barcelona Tel. +34 93 542 20 00 2. Mercè building Pl. de la Mercè, 10–12 08002 Barcelona Tel. +34 93 542 20 00 6. Poblenou Campus Roc Boronat, 138 08018 Barcelona Tel. +34 93 542 20 00 4. Mar Campus Doctor Aiguader, 80 08003 Barcelona Tel. +34 93 542 20 00 4 1 6 3 5 2 Barcelona UPF Campus 2022July