New tools and strategies are needed to accelerate progress toward malaria control and elimination. To successfully meet this challenge we need a clearer understanding of the complex interplay between the Plasmodium parasite, its mosquito vector and the vertebrate host it infects. The 2017 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Malaria will focus on the biology of Plasmodium infection at every stage of the parasite's life cycle. To set the stage for a thought-provoking meeting, the program is composed of both malaria and non-malaria scientists at the forefront of their fields. We hope to stimulate innovative ideas and collaborations by providing a forum to discuss cutting edge basic malaria research as well as recent advances in non-malaria fields with potential relevance to malaria. The conference will be preceded by the Malaria Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) from July 1-2, 2017 targeted at graduate students, post-docs and junior scientists.