The Cell Biology group at Robarts is lead by Dr. Stephen Ferguson, CRC in Molecular Neuroscience. This unique group is comprised of 3 clinician scientists and 4 PhD scientists whose research efforts are all focused on the cell biology of aging. The group is currently undergoing a rapid expansion phase with the hiring of 2 new scientists into the research group in early 2004 and the development of an additional 8000 sq ft of laboratory space in addition to the current 10,000 sq ft of space that is currently occupied by the group. Three of the scientists in the group have received CIHR salary awards (Rylett, Strong and Meakin) and 2 scientists currently hold Career Investigator Awards from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (Ferguson, Feldman). Three members of the group have received Premier's Research Excellence Awards (Ferguson, Meakin, Strong) and Dr. Ferguson has received an Ontario Distinguished Researcher Award. Members of the group have received CFI New Opportunities (Ferguson) and CFI infrastructure grants (Ferguson, Rylett and Meakin) that have facilitated the construction of an 800 sq ft confocal imaging center that is equipped with three state-of-the-art confocal microscopy systems, a stand alone tissue culture and surgery and offline computer analysis stations. A major direction of the research group is to understand the spatial-temporal dynamics of cell signaling networks, in particular real-time measurement of post-translational protein modification events in live cells with emphasis on developing reagents that can be translated from single cell to in vivo imaging. Imaging scientists, Dr. Menon and Dr. Bartha joined the Group in 2002 and 2003 respectively.