The Lysosome and Endocytosis Gordon Conference provides a unique opportunity for formal oral and poster presentations as well as ample time for informal discussions aimed at stimulating research on topics related to cell signaling and membrane trafficking along the endocytic pathway. The role of the endosomal/lysosomal system in receptor down-regulation represents one important area of research emphasized at the meeting. Recent rapid progress in this field will enable discussions on the molecular mechanisms of vesicular trafficking in endocytosis and on the role of endocytosis in such processes as antigen presentation, developmental signaling, regulation of insulin-responsiveness, control of signal transduction, synaptic vesicle recycling and pathogenesis. The speakers, all recognized world leaders in their respective fields, will provide up-to-date research of direct relevance to a variety of disease-related topics, including diabetes, cancer, inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, Alzheimer's, lysosomal storage disorders and HIV/AIDS. Because of this relevance to translational medicine, the Lysosome and Endocytosis meeting is regularly attended by medical researchers interested in the application of new findings to new therapies.