increase  the  availability  of  cell-culture  methodologies  and established  cell  lines  for  in  vitro  studies.  These  research resources  must  be  strengthened  to  promote  overall  scien- tific understanding of critical disease pathways and to bring the use of fish models into the scientific mainstream. To  address  such  issues,  concerned  investigators  re- quired  a  forum.  Therefore,  we  organized  a  gathering  of scientists  with  expertise  in  commonly  used  aquaria  fish models to share their findings, discuss technology develop- ment,  and  recommend  future  directions.  From  our  initial contacts with researchers, it became immediately apparent that such a conference was long overdue. They all expressed considerable  excitement  at  the  opportunity  to  present  re- cent research results using various fish model systems and discuss  how  these  nonmammalian  models  could  be  better applied to address contemporary scientific problems. Accordingly,  we  held  a  conference,  entitled  “Aquaria Fish  Models  of  Human  Disease,”  on  September  20–23, 2000, at Southwest Texas State University (SWT), San Mar- cos.  The  hosts  were  the  SWT  Molecular  Biosciences  Re- search Group and the staff of the Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center.  More  than  100  scientists  including  prominent  re- searchers from the United States and several other counties attending this meeting. They offered a diverse array of mod- els, such as zebrafish (Danio rerio), platyfish-swordtail hy- brids  (Xiphophorus  spp.),  medaka  (Oryzias  latipes),  mum- michog  (Fundulus  heterolitus),  pufferfish  (Fugu  rubripes), and the bicolor damselfish (Pomacentrus partitus). Also par- ticipating at the meeting were virologists working with vi- rus-induced  tumorigenesis  in  walleye  and  trout,  and  the directors  of  various  fish  model  resource  centers  (Fugu, medaka, Xiphophorus, and zebrafish). In  addition  to  the  scientific  presentations,  some  of which are reproduced in this supplement, 4 topical working groups  considered  issues  pertaining  to  research  on  non- mammalian  models:  (1)  Fish  Cancer  Models:  Sustenance and Enhancement; (2) Fish Genomics and Transgenics: Re- sources and Technology; (3) Fish Pathology: Standards for Tumor Pathology Classification; and (4) Resources Under- pinning Aquaria Fish Research. Summaries of the working group  discussions  and  recommendations  are  included herein (see Final Report). From the excellent quality of the science presented and the  overall  enthusiasm  among  the  participants,  we  believe that the Aquaria Fish Models Conference was very success- ful in achieving its goals. However, this success will be in- significant if we do not make a concerted effort to execute the  intents  of  the  working  groups’  recommendations:  this practical advice comes from within the community, and will need to be accomplished by the community. This conference could not have been held without the interest and assistance of Drs. David Longfellow and Ying- Pin Liu of the National Institutes of Health–National Can- cer  Institute  (NIH-NCI)  Physical  and  Chemical  Carcino- gensis Branch). Ms. Roxie Smeal (SWT) undertook the con- ference’s  organizational  management,  helped  by  Sherry Brown (SWT) and Ellen Ziaka (NIH-NCI). We owe them a great debt for their tireless effort on our behalf. Our sincere appreciation also goes to the four modera- tors  of  the  working  groups  (Drs.  Rodney  Nairn,  Michael Schmale, John Stegman, and Richard Winn) for crystalliz- ing  many  issues  and  discussions  into  concise  group  sum- maries  and  specific  recommendations.  Drs.  Avril  Wood- head and Thomas Chen organized and supervised the sub- mission  and  peer  review  of  the  manuscripts  in  this publication.  Finally,  the  attendees  made  this  conference both successful and enjoyable, and we thank them. The Aquaria Fish Models Conference was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health–National Cancer Institute (Chemical and Physical Carcinogenesis Branch), Southwest Texas State University, and the Roy F. and Joanne C. Mitte Foundation. S2 Ronald B. Walter