We are pleased to present to our readers the proceedings of the Seventh Internat ional 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 Divison of Nephrology in Hopital 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 C'.ermany, 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 Commi ttee. This meet ing provided an excellent opportuni ty for interested scientists from interrelated disciplines including nephrology, endcrinology, physiology, biochemistry and nutrition to get together and discuss recent advances in the field of phosphate and mineral metabolism.