The 2009 Gordon Research Conference on Cell Growth and Proliferation will provide a forum for the discussion of the multiple cellular processes that contribute to cellular growth and division. Research at the forefront of our understanding of basic cell cycle processes including DNA replication, entry into, exit from and maintenance of mitosis and the various cell cycle checkpoints that restrain division when cell cycle events are disrupted wil be covered. In addition, the multiple signaling pathways that impact cellular growth will be discussed. Given the importance of unrestrained proliferation in carcinogenesis, significant time will also be devoted to consideration of how normal processes go awry during the development of cancers and how these cellular alterations promote tumorigenesis. Over the past several decades, dramatic progress in all of these areas has resulted from the cross-fertilization of ideas and observations made in multiple model systems (e.g. yeast, Xenopus, mammalian tissue culture models, flies, mice). Accordingly, a diverse group of international researchers working in multiple systems will attend the meeting to discuss their latest findings. Meeting attendees will be encouraged to contribute to these discussions and to present posters. In addition, short talk presenters will be selected from submitted abstracts.