A macroporous ceramic body was prepared by combining a mixture of ceramic forming components with a polymer network structure to form a second intermediate mixture comprising a polymer network. The polymer network is then removed in the drying and/or sintering step leaving an interconnected open pore network within the ceramic body. The macroporous ceramic body comprises a three-dimensional, porous network comprising pores of about 3 mm to 11 mm. The nature of the three dimensional porous network is controlled by incorporating pre-designed polymer network.