Cellular and molecular neurobiology has emerged as one of the most exciting and rapidly moving fields in contemporary biology. The 9th Gordon Conference on Cell Biology of the Neuron will be held on June 27 - July 2, 2010 at Waterville Valley Resort, NH. The field has gained tremendous progress in recent years as the results of rapid technological advances in microscopy and genomics, and of interdisciplinary collaborations using a diverse set of approaches. The meeting will present cutting-edge research on the molecular and cellular aspects of the structure and function of the neuron and the synapse. The tentative session topics include development, function and plasticity of the synapse, intracellular transport of signaling molecules and ion channels, and single-molecule imaging of synapse dynamics. In addition, relevance to medical applications will be covered throughout the conference as an integral part of the presentation. Invited speakers represent a variety of scientific disciplines, including molecular genetics, cell biology, physiology, structural biology, and imaging. The Conference will also provide ample opportunities for junior scientists and graduate students to present their work in poster format and exchange ideas with leaders in the field. Members of under-represented minority groups are especially encouraged to attend. To ensure that the latest and most exciting results are presented, some poster presenters will be selected for short talks. The collegial atmosphere of this Conference, with programmed discussion sessions as well as opportunities for informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, provides an avenue for scientists from different disciplines to brainstorm and promotes cross-disciplinary collaborations in the various research areas represented.