Brain blood flow and metabolism are vital to the normal mammalian nervous system and provides the basis for functional imaging. Over the last decade, dramatic progress has been made in molecular biology, biophysics and genetics that impact our understanding of brain energy metabolism, neural organization, cell signaling and vascular regulation. In addition, new technologies have emerged to measure blood flow and metabolism with high spatial and temporal resolution. The stage is set to use the methodological progress to address fundamental issues related to the organization of brain function, blood flow and metabolic activity. We anticipate that progress in this field will drive new discoveries in the experimental and clinical neurosciences and impact diagnosis and treatment of stroke and other neurodegenerative disorder. The biannual Gordon research conference is devoted to presentations of front-line research of brain metabolism, cell signaling, cell-cell interactions and vascular regulation in the normal and injured brain. The conference is a unique opportunity for experts and newcomers alike to exchange state-of-the-art advances in methodology and concepts, as well as outline promising avenues for collaborative research.