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Within this group of papers is a subgroup organized by Kristin Fabre, Terry R. The purpose of this collection is to provide examples of how this emerging technology is being applied to a wide range of practical problems. This process is revealing the challenges in the application of these techniques to practical problems and potential solutions to these challenges. The technology is still emerging but recent advances have moved it from conceptual development to application to specific problems. The organ-on-chip field has begun to mature with many small companies developing this technology and widespread testing in pharmaceutical and cosmetic firms. This virtual issue on “Organ-on-a-chip systems: translating concept into practice” continues an assessment of this emerging technology discussed initially as “Advances in organ-, body-, and disease-on-a-chip systems” in Lab on a Chip (DOI: 10.1039/C8LC90089B).