Aquaria fish models of human disease: Reports and recommendations from theworking groups

On September 21-24, 2000, the National Cancer Institute, Southwest Texas St ate University, and the Roy and Joan Mitte Foundation sponsored an internat ional conference entitled "Aquaria Fish Models of Human Disease" at Southwe st Texas State University (SWT), San Marcos, Texas, USA. Over 100 scientist s, representing various fish model systems, participated in four roundtable working groups. We considered the first step in promoting the exciting res earch with fish models was to unify the efforts within this scientific comm unity towards accomplishing specific goals. With this objective in mind, th e following four working groups were convened: (1) fish cancer models: sust enance and enhancement; (2) fish genomics and transgenics: resources and te chnology; (3) fish pathology: standards for tumor pathology classification; and, (4) resources underpinning aquaria fish research. Each working group was charged with preparing a report of their discussions with recommendatio ns on how researchers and funding agencies might best direct and strengthen research support to ensure a healthy future for such work. Included are th e final reports from these working groups, together with a brief summary of the discussions held during the sessions and the consensus recommendations from each group.