Human Health and Medicine
Genetics, Molecular Techniques & Cell Biology
Microbiology, Virology & Pathogens
Ecological & Environmental Sciences
Understanding the way living systems work, from molecular and cellular processes to ecosystems, is fundamental to taking care of our health and living sustainably on our planet. The 6 kingdoms of life, Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia encompass all known living things on our planet, and life sciences aim to understand them from a molecular to planetary scale. For example, rising levels of health conditions from excessive heat and drought or pollution in the air and water, including microplastics, require systemic understanding of the impact of anthropogenic activities on our ecosystems.
The top health challenges we currently face stem from climate change and pollution, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and infectious diseases, including pandemic preparedness (WHO). In the face of these challenges, life sciences and pharmaceuticals are at the forefront of developing solutions.
Pharmaceuticals focus on the discovery and development of medications to combat diseases. This field involves the study of chemical compounds and biological agents and their effects on the human body to improve the efficacy, safety, and accessibility of drugs for patients. NCDs like diabetes, heart disease and cancer are the cause of death for millions of people every year and are a major area of research. Additionally, infectious diseases like malaria or influenza require continuous vaccine development and the prevalence of resistance in bacteria and fungi drives continuous mechanistic innovation for antimicrobials.
Both disciplines are required to combat the plethora of health challenges faced by the human population today. Indeed, the science is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary. Biology, chemistry, physics, social and computational science are all coming together as researchers strive to improve health and the environment for everyone. This can include complex issues around administering healthcare and vaccinations to those in remote areas, addressing vaccination hesitancy and managing drug resistance.
One prime example of a cross-discipline approach is the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a class of biopharmaceuticals that combine the targeting capabilities of monoclonal antibodies with the potent cell-killing ability of cytotoxic drugs. ADCs are revolutionising cancer treatment by selectively delivering cytotoxic drugs to cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissue. The development of ADCs requires the integration of biological knowledge (target selection), chemical expertise (linker and payload development), and advanced drug delivery strategies, demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Recently, AI-assisted drug discovery uses machine learning algorithms to predict drug-target interactions, accelerate compound screening, and optimize lead candidate selection of small molecule drugs. This approach reduces the time and cost of developing novel pharmaceuticals, offering a promising pathway toward faster and more efficient drug development.
Another rapidly developing area of life sciences is genetic sequencing and molecular diagnostics. Techniques like next-generation sequencing (NGS) enable rapid and comprehensive analysis of entire genomes, allowing researchers to identify genetic mutations responsible for inherited diseases, cancers, and rare genetic disorders. Sequencing technologies have also been instrumental in epidemiology, allowing scientists to monitor the evolution of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beyond human health, these same techniques are allowing environmental science researchers to better monitor biodiversity, track pollution levels, and develop bioremediation strategies to mitigate environmental degradation. For example, metagenomic sequencing allows scientists to analyse the microbial diversity within environmental samples, identifying organisms capable of degrading pollutants or restoring ecosystem balance. Additionally, synthetic biology approaches are being explored to engineer microbes capable of carbon capture or plastic degradation, offering promising solutions to climate change and environmental contamination.