There is a rapid increase in interest related to novel approaches in artificial kidneys, artificial liver, and detoxifi cation. Recent research has included the successful clinical appli cations of the principle of artificial cells for adsorbent hemo perfusion. Since it is 20 years ago at McGill that the first report on "Artificial Cells" was presented, I thought it might be useful to get together a small group of speakers and participants for a day before the ASAIO meeting to discuss some recent advances in the area of the clinical applications of artificial kidney, artificial liver and artificial cells with emphasis on adsorbent hemoperfusion. However, the enthusiastic supports of distinguished speakers, session chairmen and participants were such that the original pro jection of 100 participants had expanded to a preregistration total of 250, from Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden and U. S. A. The program also expanded to include a review section on hemodialysis, dialysate regeneration, hemofiltration, resin hemoperfusion and oxystarch given by their respective originators. The remaining of the symposium emphasizes the status of the art on different encap sulated adsorbent hemoperfusion approaches. I would like to apolo gize to those who we could not accommodate beca~se of space limita tions. It is hoped that this symposium volume may be useful for them and for others who are interested in this area. Special thanks are due to Ms Joanne Toms for her excellent secretarial assistance for the conference and Mrs.