The 2013 Glycobiology Gordon Research Conference (GRC) will be held March 3-8 at the Ventura Beach Marriott Hotel in Ventura, California. The Glycobiology GRC is one of the most exciting and important meetings in the field and offers a unique opportunity to both contribute to and keep abreast of the latest developments in our multidisciplinary field in a collegial setting. Carbohydrates harbor biological information and 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 microbial glycobiology. These advances are fueled by equally dramatic developments in the structural analysis of glycans and proteins interacting with carbohydrates as well as in analytical technologies. This meeting will focus on the roles of glycans in a variety of living systems and processes, including human physiology and pathology. We expect to bring together an outstanding and diverse group of international scientists working at the forefront of research. Twelve scientific sessions are currently planned to cover diverse areas of the field, including structural glycomics, structural glycobiology of enzymes and receptors, chemical glycobiology, glycobiology of viruses, microbes, and parasites, host-microbe interactions, mechanisms of glycosylation and catabolism, epigenetic regulation, glycan diversity, roles of glycobiology in immunology and cancer, and human genetic disorders and vertebrate pathology. In addition to the approximately 31 invited talks, 21 short talks will be selected from poster abstracts, and six Conference Awards will be given for outstanding abstracts submitted by graduate students and post-docs. For the first time, a Glycobiology Gordon Research Seminar will also be held in advance of the GRC that will foster interactions between graduate students, post-docs and established researchers as mentors. All applicants to both meetings are encouraged to present a poster. The size of the GRC has been increased to 175 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.