The 12th Gordon Conference on Staphylococcal Diseases 2011 will present cutting-edge research on the important pathogens S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci. Topics at this meeting will include: host interaction, immune evasion, evolution, physiology, cell surfaces, therapeutics and patient management. Invited speakers from academia and industry who are at the forefront of their subject will be presenting their latest unpublished research. All attendees will have the opportunity to present posters and exchange ideas with leaders in the staphylococcal field. As in previous years, the best posters from younger researchers will be selected for short oral presentations. The collegial atmosphere of this Conference, with organized discussion sessions as well as opportunities for informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, provides an ideal setting for scientists from different disciplines to exchange ideas, brainstorm and foster cross-disciplinary collaborations.