Abstract: The present invention relates to highly porous polymeric materials comprising covalently grafted biologically active species. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of highly porous materials comprising functional monomers capable of grafting to a biologically active molecular species comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an emulsion composition comprising a droplet phase and a continuous phase and containing monomers, (b) curing the emulsion and (c) optionally removing the water/droplet phase. The invention further relates to a process for grafting biologically active species to such a highly porous polymeric material comprising the steps of: (i) exposing the highly porous material to a solution of the biologically active species in a suitable solvent medium, (ii) optionally adding an activating agent, (iii) optionally heating, and (iv) rinsing the porous material with solvent medium to remove non-grafted species.