Aquaria fish models of human disease: reports and recommendations from the working groups

On September 21-24, 2000, the National Cancer Institute, Southwest Texas State University, and the Roy and Joan Mitte Foundation sponsored an international conference entitled "Aquaria Fish Models of Human Disease" at Southwest Texas State University (SWT), San Marcos, Texas, USA. Over 100 scientists, representing various fish model systems, participated in four roundtable working groups. We considered the first step in promoting the exciting research with fish models was to unify the efforts within this scientific community towards accomplishing specific goals. With this objective in mind, the following four working groups were convened: (1) fish cancer models: sustenance and enhancement; (2) fish genomics and transgenics: resources and technology; (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 recommendations on how researchers and funding agencies might best direct and strengthen research support to ensure a healthy future for such work. Included are the 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.