We present to our readers the proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Phosphate. A short account of the history of the effort led to the Phosphate Workshops is appro priate and can be of interest to the reader. The idea for Phosphate Workshops was born in the early days of November, 1974. One of us (S. G. M. ) suggested the thought to a group of scientists gathered for a luncheon in one of the attrac tive small restaurants in Weisbaden, Germany. The purpose of the workshop was to bring together interested scientists to discuss the newer developments and the recent advances in the field of phosphate metabolism and the other related minerals. An Organizing Committee made of Shaul G. Massry (USA), Louis V. Avioli (USA), Philippe Bordier (France), Herbert Fleisch (Switzerland), and Eduardo Slatopolsky (USA) was formed. The First Workshop was held in Paris during June 5-6, 1975 and was hosted by Dr. Philippe Bordier. Its proceeding was already published. The Second Workshop took place in Heidelberg during June 28-30, 1976 and was hosted by Dr. Eberhard Ritz. Both of these workshops were extremely successful scientific endeavors, and the need for them was demonstrated by the great interest they generated among the scientific community. The Or ganizing Committee, therefore, decided to continue with the tradi tion to hold additional Workshops annually or every other year."

We are pleased to present to our readers the Proceedings of the Sixth International Workshop on Phosphate and Other Minerals which was held in Verona, Italy, during June 24-26, 1983. It was hosted by Professor Giuseppe Maschio, Professor of Medicine and Chief, Department of Nephrology at the University of Verona. The Sixth Workshop maintained the tradition of the previous ones. It provided a unique and outstanding opportunity for close interaction between scientist involved in the research of the overall field of Mineral Metabolism. The current Workshop was attended by 250 scientists from 15 countries including Austria, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States of America. The topics discussed included the renal handling of phosphate, transport of other minerals, intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphate and phosphate homeostasis in health and disease. Two symposia dealing with the recent developments of the interactions between minerals, parathyroid hormone, and blood pressure and between minerals and myopathies were included. In addition to the 15 State-of-the-Art Lectures, there were 43 oral and 63 poster presentations selected from over 200 abstracts sub mitted to the Program Committee. The Seventh International Workshop on Phosphate and Other Minerals will be held during September, 1985, in Marseille, France. It will be hosted by Professor Michel almer, Chief of the Department of Nephrology at the University of Marseille. The theme of this coming Workshop will focus on the pathophysiology of phosphate homeostasis and the metabolism of other minerals."