Christina Holmes

Christina Holmes, Ph.D., serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering within the College of Engineering at Florida A&M University and Florida State University. Her research integrates chemical engineering principles with biomedical applications to develop advanced biomaterials for regenerative medicine and orthopedic solutions.

Her educational journey includes:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, 2013
• M.A.Sc., Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 2006
• B.A.Sc., Engineering Science, University of Toronto, 2003

Dr. Holmes' research program pioneers biomaterials innovation for spinal fusion and bone regeneration, with emphasis on nanocarrier systems for targeted drug/gene delivery. Her laboratory employs optical coherence phase microscopy for label-free, real-time monitoring of tissue growth in 3D scaffolds—eliminating destructive sampling while enabling precise viability assessment. Current work explores extracellular vesicle therapeutics derived from mesenchymal stem cells and biomimetic growth factor delivery platforms to enhance bone healing.

Analysis of her 2019-2024 publications reveals a strategic pivot toward extracellular vesicle optimization and translational orthopedics. Key trends include: (1) systematic comparison of adipose vs. bone marrow stem cell sources for vesicle production, (2) development of radiation-resistant biomaterials for spinal applications, and (3) investigation of pharmacological agents (e.g., ARBs/ACEIs) on fusion outcomes. Her work consistently bridges in vitro models with rat/rabbit spinal fusion studies, demonstrating strong clinical relevance.