2.  One of the most prominent orthopedic
hospitals in the United States, the Hospital
for Special Surgery has earned widespread
acclaim for its state-of-the-art research
programs, including the Arthritis and Tissue
Degeneration Program. A comprehensive
research project that seeks to define
cellular and molecular processes central to
musculoskeletal tissue destruction, the
program also attempts to develop
innovative approaches to the prevention of
tissue destruction in patients with arthritis-
related diseases.

3.  In addition to providing an important channel for
communication among investigators of rheumatic
and orthopedic diseases, the program delivers
mentorship and education services for students and
junior scientists.
In terms of specific program goals, the Arthritis and
Tissue Degeneration Program investigates the
homeostatic mechanisms of cells such as fibroblasts,
chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts. The
program also studies the interactions between
inflammatory cells and resident tissue cells, which
often lead to considerable tissue destruction in
patients with arthritis-related diseases.