We are pleased to present to our readers The Proceedings of the Seventh International Workshop on Phosphate and Other Minerals which was held in Marsielle, France during September 1-4, 1985. It was hosted by Professor Michel Olmer, the Chief of the Division of Nephrology in Hospital de la Conception of the University of D'Aix-Marsielle II. The workshop was attended by 250 scientists from 17 countries including Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Republic of Germany, Egypt, England, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the United States of America. There were 28 invited presentations by leading scientists and 40 oral and 75 poster presentations selected from over 200 abstracts submitted to the Organizing Committee. This meeting provided an excellent opportunity for interested scientists from interrelated disciplines including nephrology, endocrinology, physiology, biochemistry and nutrition to get together and discuss recent advances in the field of phosphate and mineral metabolism.