We present a medical workstation for the efficient implementation of research ideas related to image processing and computer graphics. Based on standard hardware platforms the software system encompasses two major components: A turnkey application system provides a functionally kernel for a broad community of clinical users working with digital imaging devices, including methods of noise suppression, interactive and automatic segmentation, 3D surface reconstruction and multi-modal registration. A development toolbox allows new algorithms and applications to be efficiently implemented and consistently integrated with the common framework of the turnkey system. The platform is based on an elaborate object class structure describing objects for image processing, computer graphics, study handling and user interface control. Thus expertise of computer scientists familiar with this application domain is brought into the hospital and can be readily used by clinical researchers.