The use of polymers in medicine and biology is a scientifically and commercially important area that has attracted a large number of interdisciplinary scientists and engineers.  In view of the need, this POLY workshop started in 1992 and has been offered every 2-4 years since then. Over the years, a community has evolved around the participants of the workshop, and new participants have congregated around it.  In the meantime, this field continues to innovate with new developments, new instrumentation, and new applications.