Research activities of the department are subdivided into five general scientific sectors: Evolution, Biodiversity and the Environment; Cell and Developmental Biology; Genes, Genomics and Proteomics; The Molecular and Cellular Basis of Human Health; Biophysics and Protein Science. 

Research is performed by groups that manage equipment as well as human and financial resources and develop research lines, in part autonomously and in part integrated with those of other groups in the Department, resulting in rich network of collaboration.