The Gordon Conference on Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology is a broad conference designed to promote interactions between American and Asian neuroscientists. The conference will feature speakers from the United States and many Asian countries who are conducting research in diverse areas of modern neuroscience from molecules and cells to circuits, behavior, mental illness and neurodegeneration. Speakers at the conference will describe recent progress in studies important for understanding afflictions that include autism, mental retardation, addiction, mental illness, and neurodegenerative diseases. The topics of the upcoming conference focus on recent progress in molecular, cellular and developmental neurobiology. A total of 9 themes have been selected for the formal conference sessions: Genetic bases of behavior and disease, Stem cells and early neuronal development, Synaptic transmission and plasticity, Circuit Assembly, Synapse formation and structure,Regulation of neuronal morphogenesis, Molecular insights into mental retardation and psychiatric illness, Neuronal communication and behavior, and the Molecular basis of neurological diseases. In addition, Dr. Stanley Prusiner, Nobel Laureate in Medicine, will deliver a special lecture entitled “Protein mis-folding and disease: Prions and their propagation.” which is expected to inspire trainees by his example of courageous work that was disparaged by the mainline scientific community for many years. The conference venue will provide an opportunity for interactions between scientists of many nationalities at early stages of their careers who otherwise have few opportunities for exchange of ideas and establishment of collaborations. Several short talks selected based upon abstract submissions will provide speaking opportunities for young scientists from both North America and Asia.