The 2009 Glycobiology Gordon Research Conference will be held January 18-23 at the Ventura Beach Marriott Hotel in Ventura, California. Please note the earlier date relative to recent years. The Glycobiology Gordon Conference offers a unique opportunity, in a collegial setting, to both contribute to and keep abreast of the latest developments in our multidisciplinary field. Many new glycan functions are rapidly emerging from the studies of tissues and organs of humans and model systems, as well as in the area of parasite-host interactions, and these advances are fueled by equally dramatic developments in glycan structural analysis technologies. Thirteen scientific sessions are currently planned to cover diverse areas of the field, including Structural glycobiology of enzymes and receptors, Mechanisms of glycosylation, Nerve and muscle glycobiology, Chemical glycobiology, Immune cell glycobiology, Vascular glycobiology, Developmental glycobiology, Cancer and cell regulation, Metabolic regulation, and Parasite glycobiology. In addition to the approximately 31 invited talks, ~26 short talks will be selected from poster abstracts, and eight Conference Awards will be available for outstanding abstracts submitted by graduate students, post-docs and new faculty members. All applicants are encouraged to present a poster. The size of the conference has been increased this year to 150 participants but, since registration is limited, early application is advised. We encourage participation of researchers new to the glycobiology field, as well as junior investigators, scientists from developing countries, racial/ethnic minorities, and disabled persons. Please join us for what promises to be an exciting and interactive meeting.