Molecular Architecture of Life
How does life originate and what are the processes that make it possible?
What is life? How did it originate? What keeps it going? These questions have puzzled humans for thousands of years. With new technology and a unique interdisciplinary approach, the Molecular Architecture of Life program is finding answers.
Until recently, we could only understand the processes of life by looking at static pictures of its building blocks. But life is dynamic, and processes are in constant states of change. Now we have tools such as ultrafast imaging that can record molecules in motion and give scientists the ability to observe living systems at a level that was previously unknown.
Understanding levels of biological function across vastly different lengths and timescales — from the movement of a single atom in a quadrillionth of a second to the much slower processes of cell growth and regulation – is giving researchers in this program new insights into the processes of life.
Founded In
2014
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Biophysics
Biochemistry
Molecular biology
Structural biology
Genetics
Neuroscience
Basic medicine, including pathology, pharmacology and toxicology
Analytic and organic chemistry
Optics
Fellows & Advisors
Program Directors
Oliver Ernst
Program Co-Director
R.J. Dwayne Miller
Program Co-Director
University of Toronto
Fellows
Wolfgang Baumeister
Fellow
Michel Bouvier
Fellow
Daniel Figeys
Fellow
Sihyun Ham
Fellow
Lewis Kay
Fellow
Ming Lei
Fellow
Rachel W. Martin
Fellow
Krzysztof Palczewski
Fellow
Dame Carol Robinson
Fellow
John Vederas
Fellow
Paul Wiseman
Fellow
Advisors
Robert H. Austin
Advisor
Brian Kobilka
Advisor
Lois Pollack
Advisor
David Stuart
Advisory Committee Chair
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars
Khanh Huy Bui
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2017-2019
Mikko Taipale
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2016-2018
Yue Wan
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2018-2020
Hyun Youk
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2018-2020
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CIFAR is a registered charitable organization supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Quebec, as well as foundations, individuals, corporations and Canadian and international partner organizations.