This 5th biennial GRC conference on the Physics & Chemistry of Microfluidics will take place from June 28th - July 3rd at the Il Ciocco Hotel & Resort in Lucca (Barga), Italy. The modern resort venue is nestled in the Garfagnana Valley in the Apuan Alps. Located in Tuscany on two thousand acres of natural park (near L'Orecchiella Natural Preserve and the Regional Park of the Apuan Alps), the venue will provide a perfect backdrop for the 2009 GRC on microfluidics meeting. The 2009 meeting is the most recent in a series of conferences dedicated to advancing our understanding of the science of micro/nanofluidics. The 2009 meeting will continue this tradition, with sessions devoted to fundamental principles that underpin microfluidic and nanofluidic phenomena. Further, sessions focusing on important emerging applications of micro/nanofluidics in areas ranging from systems biology and nanobiotechnology to energy and clinical medicine are also planned. Emphasis is placed on the presentation of unpublished work, with the intent to promote active discussion among all participants. If you have not previously attended the Microfluidics GRC, we believe that you will find this to be a unique and stimulating forum.