Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by cyclin D1 overexpression as a result of the t(11;14) chromosomal translocation, and by biological and clinical heterogeneity with frequent extranodal dissemination. There is no consensus or standard for initial therapy or for treatment of relapsed disease, and no proven curative therapy exists. Nonetheless, considerable progress in treatment response and survival has been realized over the past several years, and the disease remains an important focus of preclinical and clinical research. Advances in the biologic understanding of MCL, new molecular targets and therapeutic strategies, and the applications of biomarkers for risk stratification and molecular targeting were reviewed at a recent MCL Workshop. These are summarized herein, and are intended as both a status report on areas of active investigation and to serve as a template for future research.