Abstract: The objective of the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on DNA Damage, Mutation & Cancer and the associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) is to bring researchers at all levels (faculty, researchers from industry, postdocs, graduate students) together in person to discuss the latest topics in DNA repair, replication, and genome instability that relate to cancer and other diseases. The meeting is held in the beautiful and relaxing setting of Ventura, California. Consistent with past meetings, we anticipate that there will be ~200 participants. Following the pandemic, however this GRC will take place at a period when interest in Science relating to human health is at an “all time high”. This meeting provides critical insight to the consequences of DNA damage for genome integrity and cancer avoidance, as well as advances in treating cancer with novel inhibitors that are bolstered by underlying defects in DNA repair and replication stress responses. Furthermore, a range of technologies relating to DNA damage repair are being harnessed for cures in a diverse set of human diseases. For example, therapeutic genome editing requires understanding and manipulating DNA repair. As always, we will feature an exciting scientific program with the overall goal of promoting positive interactions and the sharing of unpublished research. The GRC will feature ~35 invited speakers representing diverse scientists with respect to age, gender and geographic origin representing academia, industry and physician scientists. Moreover, there will be ~8 oral presentations selected from abstract submissions and 4 interactive poster sessions. The invited speakers represent the field broadly and are leaders in their respective fields. The Power Hour afternoon session will discuss challenges to women in science, challenges to minorities in science, and establish new networking interactions. At some of the dinners there will be theme tables, one night based on scientific topics and another night based on mentoring and career options, to encourage participation of students and postdocs and to help interactions between these groups and senior scientists. The GRS will have 8 postdoc/student presentations selected from abstracts, an introductory keynote lecture, a career panel discussion and two poster sessions. The GRC/GRS meeting schedule allows for plenty of time for informal discussions during sessions, meals and free time.