The Gordon Research Conference on Musculoskeletal Biology and Bioengineering (previously titled Bioengineering and Orthopaedic Sciences) has been the premier forum for presentation and discussion of new and unpublished information in the field, and has consistently led to new insights, new interactions, new collaborations, and new research directions. The study of the musculoskeletal system encompasses a number of interdisciplinary fields, particularly biology and bioengineering, and has ultimate applications in clinical areas including orthopaedic surgery, rheumatology, and radiology. The theme of the planned 2012 conference is "Musculoskeletal Science: Bedside to Bench to Bedside," and the meeting will consist of 9 separate sessions, consisting of invited speakers who are experts in their field and selected attendees at various levels of career development. The format of the planned conference remains essentially unchanged from previous years, with ample time for formal and informal discussions. Our unique focus in 2012 is to facilitate the physician-scientist interaction to bring new ideas and treatments to improve the lives of patients. This is exemplified by our session on Translational Studies on Enhancing Soft Tissue Healing, with both physicians and scientists lecturing together on cutting edge solutions and investigations into clinical problems. Some of the chief issues are specific to individual tissues, including bone, articular cartilage, intra-articular ligament, meniscus, and both rotator cuff and flexor tendons, as well as other multi-tissue skeletal structures. A number of key scientific and engineering topics are relevant to fabrication and manipulation of these tissues and organs. The conference will examine many of these topics, including biomaterial fabrication, stem cells, biomarkers, skeletal development, growth and regeneration, and translation of basic research to clinical practice. In addition, the conference also includes several high-profile research areas highlighting the close collaboration required between clinician-scientists and PhDs to improve patients’ health outcomes.