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Molecular Architecture of Life

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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

Oliver Ernst

Program Co-Director

Molecular Architecture of Life
University of Toronto
Canada
R.J. Dwayne Miller

R.J. Dwayne Miller

Program Co-Director

Molecular Architecture of Life
Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter
University of Toronto
Canada

Fellows

Wolfgang Baumeister

Wolfgang Baumeister

Fellow

Molecular Architecture of Life
Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry
Germany
Michel Bouvier

Michel Bouvier

Fellow

Molecular Architecture of Life
Université de Montréal
Canada
Daniel Figeys

Daniel Figeys

Fellow

Molecular Architecture of Life
University of Ottawa
Canada
Sihyun Ham

Sihyun Ham

Fellow

Molecular Architecture of Life
Sookmyung Women's University
South Korea
Lewis Kay

Lewis Kay

Fellow

Molecular Architecture of Life
University of Toronto
Canada
Ming Lei

Ming Lei

Fellow

Molecular Architecture of Life
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
China
Rachel W. Martin

Rachel W. Martin

Fellow

Molecular Architecture of Life
University of California Irvine
United States
Krzysztof Palczewski

Krzysztof Palczewski

Fellow

Molecular Architecture of Life
Case Western Reserve University
United States
Dame Carol Robinson

Dame Carol Robinson

Fellow

Molecular Architecture of Life
University of Oxford
United Kingdom
John Vederas

John Vederas

Fellow

Molecular Architecture of Life
University of Alberta
Canada
Paul Wiseman

Paul Wiseman

Fellow

Molecular Architecture of Life
McGill University
Canada

Advisors

Robert H. Austin

Robert H. Austin

Advisor

Molecular Architecture of Life
Princeton University
United States
Brian Kobilka

Brian Kobilka

Advisor

Molecular Architecture of Life
Stanford University
United States
Lois Pollack

Lois Pollack

Advisor

Molecular Architecture of Life
Cornell University
United States
David Stuart

David Stuart

Advisory Committee Chair

Molecular Architecture of Life
Oxford University
United Kingdom

CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars

Khanh Huy Bui

Khanh Huy Bui

CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2017-2019

Molecular Architecture of Life
McGill University
Canada
Mikko Taipale

Mikko Taipale

CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2016-2018

Molecular Architecture of Life
University of Toronto
Canada
Yue Wan

Yue Wan

CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2018-2020

Molecular Architecture of Life
Genome Institute of Singapore
Singapore
Hyun Youk

Hyun Youk

CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2018-2020

Molecular Architecture of Life
University of Massachusetts
United States

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The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is a globally influential research organization proudly based in Canada. We mobilize the world’s most brilliant people across disciplines and at all career stages to advance transformative knowledge and solve humanity’s biggest problems, together. We are supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Québec, as well as Canadian and international foundations, individuals, corporations and partner organizations.

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