The Red Cells Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and the accompanying Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) for trainees will provide a relaxed, collegial venue to unite diverse investigators working on all aspects of erythrocyte biology, from basic science to translational research on blood disorders. The Red Cells GRC will present cutting edge, unpublished findings on diverse topics including the ontogeny of erythropoiesis, derivation of erythrocytes from pluripotent stem cells, membrane cytoskeletal proteins, genetic/epigenetic regulation of erythroid transcription, cytokine signaling pathways that stimulate erythropoiesis, iron/heme biology, specialized aspects of terminal erythroid maturation and mechanisms of red blood cell diseases. The focus of the 2017 meeting is to present the most impactful new scientific discoveries on red blood cell biology and illustrate their relevance for understanding and treating human diseases. In addition to the core scientific program, a distinguished speaker will give a keynote address providing a historical overview of the field. The Red Cells GRS will occur over 1.5 days prior to the GRC and will include short talks and poster sessions by postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, a keynote address, and a panel discussion on career development with successful scientists and physician-scientists working in academia, industry, publishing and government. The overall objectives of The Red Cells GRS/GRC are to: 1) to promote health-related research that will improve our understanding of blood disorders and lead to new cures, and 2) to inspire new biomedical investigators by providing advice on career development, support from senior scientists and exposure to outstanding scientific research.