Welcome! In the following pages we invite you to explore the academic, scientific, and institutional milestones achieved by the Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS) of Universitat Pompeu Fabra over the past year. 2025 was defined by the start of our new strategic research program under the «María de Maeztu» Unit of Excellence accreditation (Spanish State Research Agency, AEI). Earning one of the nation’s highest institutional recognitions for a third time —following our awards in 2014 and 2018— solidifies MELIS’s standing as an international leader and underscores our commitment to tackling the most pressing biomedical challenges of our society. 

Throughout 2025, MELIS researchers drove significant advancements across diverse fields, including: 

• Advanced Gene Therapies: our laboratories demonstrated that generative AI can actively guide the design of next-generation genome editors, paving the way for safer, programmable therapeutics. 
• Developmental Dynamics: collaborations within the department utilized synthetic embryology and live imaging to uncover the precise temporal windows governing cell competition in developing organisms. 
• Biotherapeutic Innovation: we continue to turn basic science into practical clinical solutions, from mapping the social transmission networks shaping primate microbiomes to domesticating commensal skin bacteria to serve as living biotherapeutic platforms. 
• Societal & Cultural Genomics: our genomic studies tracking the historical and adaptive diaspora of populations demonstrate how fundamental science directly interacts with and honors global cultural history, reinforcing our deep connection to society.

In 2025 we also expanded our team by welcoming three new group leaders, whose diverse background enhances our collective scientific expertise: Dr. Fèlix Campelo (who has established the research group on “Molecular and Physical Principles of Cellular Organization”); Dr. Rosa Martínez Corral (who has set up the research group on “Theoretical Regulatory Biology”),  and Dr. Jeremy Gunawardena (who has brought his research group on “Learning and Information Processing in Cells” from Harvard Medical School). 

An important focus of MELIS continues to be our integration with higher education: we do not generate knowledge in isolation, but bring our scientific discoveries directly into our classrooms. We do so through our undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences. Additionally, our Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine, developed in coordination with the Hospital del Mar, is fully embedded in our academic activities, bridging the gap between fundamental research and clinical application. 

We would like to present to you this annual report as a reflection of the collective hard work, resilience, and passion of our academic faculty, young researchers, technicians, and administrative staff. It has been a pleasure to represent this department through a period of leadership transition and shared success. We invite you to celebrate these breakthroughs with us as we look toward a future of continued discovery and deep societal impact. 

Director:
Jordi García Ojalvo – Olga Valverde Granados

Vicedirectors:
Berta Alsina
Robert Castelo
Olga Valverde 

From July 2025
Berta Alsina
Elena Bosch
Oriol Gallego

President:
Isabel Fariñas (Universitat deValència)

Members:
Martí Aldea (Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona)
Alexander Aulehla (EMBL)
Cosima Tatiana Baldari (Università di Siena)
María Ángeles Moro Sánchez (CNIC)
David Posada (Universidad de Vigo)
Jody Rosenblatt (King’s College London)
Alfonso Valencia (BSC)

Campus director:
Esther de la Varga

Unit managers:
Carme Casanovas
Susana Fernández
Mar Garreta
Sonia Lago
David Moreso
Montse Morillas
Jordi Solà

Members:
Dolors Abella, Begoña Aguilera, Anna Almor, Maria Alòs, Xavier Ardite, Josep Aymamí, Magdalena Ballester, Cèlia Barranco, Marta Bonet, Sergi Bonilla, Gemma Burballa, Núria Cabrera, Mar Cama, Marc Canal, Neus Cartes, Sergi Casas, Pilar Cerro, Margarida Codinachs, Jairo Consol, Iris Cros, Mar de Haro, Alba Daroca, Jagli Dembele, Ana Dieste, Gemma Esparó, Elena Espinet, Rubén Fernández, Lluís Flores, Andreu de la Fuente, Juanjo de la Fuente, Sonia Gandul, Érika Garrido, Jordi Garriga, Esther Gassol, Robert González, Cintia Gutiérrez, Alba Hernández, Joan Hurtado, Sonia Iturrate, Mireia Llimós, Ariadna López, Regina López, Núria Margalef, Rosa Martínez, Tamara Monras, Neus Morgui, Ariadna Muntané, Jordi Palau, Maria Parras, Rafa Puente, Víctor Raduà, Natàlia Ras, Anna Regot, Lídia Reichenberg, Maria Riera, Anna Rivas, Ester Rodríguez, Anna Roqué, Maria José Senmartí, Joana Soria, Marcel Stanton, Aarón Tallón, Marta Torras, Xavier Vallvé, Pedro Vázquez, Carla Vega, Ramon Vendrell, Alexis Vicioso, Mercè Vidal, Marta Vila, Carla Vilardebo, Jordi Viñas, Rosa Violeta.