The 2013 Mammary Gland Biology Gordon Research Conference will cover emerging/critical topics relevant to normal mammary gland development, physiology and function, as well as breast cancer. The unique contribution and significance of this conference is that it will bring together developmental biologists, stem cell biologists, lactation physiologists, breast pathologists, endocrinologists, cancer biologists and oncologists to collectively grapple with important issues in mammary biology and breast cancer. By bringing together a diverse collection of scientists to tackle emerging scientific problems bridging the breast cancer, lactation and mammary development fields, this meeting generates a unique and creative atmosphere that spurs innovative thinking and collaborations and contributes to important advances each year. The 2013 program will include sessions discussing: 1) the influence of diabetes/obesity on mammary development, lactation physiology and breast cancer, 2) a better understanding of signaling pathways that regulate both normal development and carcinogenesis, 3) emerging controversies in stem/progenitor cell specification and in tumor initiating cells, 4) the epigenetic regulation of breast cell differentiation and breast cancer, and 5) breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Speakers in the GRC program are all eminent scientists working at the cutting edge of these research questions. We have reserved short talks in each session to highlight outstanding work by young investigators and trainees, and these presentations will be chosen from the submitted abstracts. The 2013 GRC will be preceded by the second Mammary Gland Gordon Research Seminar; graduate students and junior post-docs are encouraged to apply for both meetings. We are confident that the 2013 GRC will continue past traditions of sharing unpublished and cutting edge research and will stimulate new ideas and collaborations among the attendees of the conference.

Our meeting will feature "Lunch with a Professor", where each afternoon we are planning to bring trainees and speakers together informally during lunch to provide opportunities for mentorship. Topics will be driven by the trainees but are likely to include the professor's career path, scientific experimentation and steps for proper trainee career development. Opportunities to attend will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis via sign-up at the time of GRC registration. Each trainee is free to attend as many of the lunches as they would like.