Christina Salas

Prof. Salas is an Associate Professor, tenured in the Department of Mechanical Engineering with a joint appointment in the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering at The University of New Mexico. She also serves as Director of the UNM Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program. Prof. Salas recently transitioned to the UNM School of Engineering from the UNM School of Medicine where she served as the Director of Basic Science & Preclinical Research in the Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation. Dr. Salas performs research that is highly translational, often resulting in an immediate impact on clinical care. In her biomechanics and biomaterials laboratory, research includes, but is not limited to: medical device development, fundamental understanding of tissue response to mechanical loading, 3D printing for pre-surgical planning, and characterization of existing surgical treatments for the development of new treatment options for all manner of fractures, diseases, or disorders in orthopaedics. Dr. Salas’ independent research uses additive manufacturing (AM) for the development of complex composite scaffolds for eventual total joint replacement via a regenerative approach. Using hybrid AM platforms developed in her lab, researchers fabricate multi-scale, multi-material bone-ligament-bone scaffolds using materials synthesized in-house. Use of AM enables functional mechanical gradients not seen with traditional manufacturing processes, while addressing the chemical and biological requirements needed for tissue regeneration.