General planning of an artificial organ center

There is an increasing need for research and development centers to deal with design and evaluation of organ replacement systems, the improvement of older devices, and the study of biocompatibility problems. Special attention, in this article, is focused on the determinant role of the background of the investigators involved in a given center and the selection of research programs to be pursued. Financial and architectural aspects are discussed in general terms. Appropriate planning of artificial organ centers should allow conceptualizing research and development that will exert a practical impact on patient care locally and worldwide.