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(1) Provides leadership for a national program in the major disease categories of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases; (2) plans, conducts, fosters, and supports an integrated and coordinated program of research, investigations, clinical trials, and demonstrations relating to the causes, prevention, methods of diagnosis, and treatment of these categorical diseases through: research performed in its own laboratories and clinics, epidemiologic studies, research contracts and grants, and cooperative agreements to scientific institutions and to individuals; (3) supports training of personnel in fundamental sciences and clinical disciplines by individual and institutional research training awards; (4) conducts educational activities, including the collection and dissemination of health education materials on these diseases, with emphasis on the prevention thereof, for health professionals and the lay public; and (5) coordinates, with the other research institutes and with all Federal health programs, relevant activities in the categorical diseases.