The 14th Gordon Research Conference on Staphylococcal Diseases will present cutting-edge research on the important pathogen S. aureus and related organisms. Topics at this meeting will include: the dynamics of host:pathogen interaction, translational aspects, immunology, bacterial cell biology, toxins, animal models of infection and developments in therapeutics. We will start the meeting with a session looking outward to see what can be learned from studies on other organisms. Invited speakers will be academics, clinicians and from industry, giving a wide range of perspectives, all at the forefront of their subject presenting their latest unpublished research.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 Conference will also be preceded by a Gordon Research Seminar, a two-day event specifically intended to support the next generation of staphylococcal researchers. 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.