As in its over 25 year history, the 2016 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Cardiac Regulatory Mechanisms again will bring together new scientists and established investigators with a common interest in elucidating regulatory mechanisms of the normal heart and how they become dysfunctional in disease. The informal nature of the GRC is unique in fostering discussions that span disciplines and geography, and enables new personal and scientific connections to develop. The GRC setting sets the stage for significant exchange of the latest unpublished research and routinely proves to be a source of new collaborative research among basic and clinical scientists that will help promote translation of basic findings to clinical treatment. Importantly, the venue and tradition of this GRC, its emphasis on full participation and discussions, and its inclusion of mature and young investigators also ensures vestment of the next generation in these issues and continuity in the information flow. The GRC will be preceded by a 2 day Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) exclusively for graduate students and post-doctoral trainees. 

The 2016 meeting focuses on cutting edge approaches that range from the atomic scale to the use of "big data" to help understand cardiac function in health and disease. Speakers will present the latest advances in the core areas of the field such as myofilament function, mitochondrial regulation, redox signaling, Ca signaling, myocyte-non-myocyte cross talk, and the molecular regulation of myocardial remodeling. The program also covers select translational topics such as cardiac regeneration and rejuvenation and the mechanisms underlying atrial fibrillation that are of ongoing scientific controversies. The invited speakers represent a broad mix of young emerging scientists and established leaders of diverse scientific background, geographic and gender who will present not only their latest findings, but also highlight the knowledge gaps in the field. The session chairs are established scientific leaders who have been charged to promote a lively and interactive atmosphere during the invited talks and at the poster sessions. The program is complemented by additional talks selected from the poster submissions.