Persistent inflammation is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of many musculoskeletal diseases. Dr. Hart aims to combine her expertise in identifying the molecular mechanisms of inflammation in degenerative, traumatic, and hypoxic tissues and finding therapeutic and preventive strategies for reducing inflammation in those tissues with her expertise in tissue engineering and regenerative techniques. Her group currently aims to advance our understanding of immunologically relevant characteristics to predict cell and tissue function in joints and protect and enhance regeneration of cells during tissue repair, while simultaneously prevent unwanted inflammation in degenerative and traumatic tissues of the musculoskeletal system such as in post-traumatic osteoarthritis or in fracture settings.