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Blaine Andrew Christiansen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor in Residence
Locations and Contact
Oak Park Research Center Building
Oak Park Research Center Building
2700 Stockton Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95817
Additional Numbers
Clinic Phone
Clinical Interests
The main focus of my research is adaption of musculoskeletal tissues to the mechanical environment, injury, aging, or disease. The musculoskeletal system has an innate ability to repair and optimize itself based on the mechanical demands placed on it. By studying this adaptation, we are able to uncover underlying mechanisms that contribute to diseases such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
My laboratory primarily utilizes small animal models, and quantifies adaptation using advanced imaging techniques, histology, and mechanical testing. I currently have three primary areas of research: investigation of mechanisms of post-traumatic osteoarthritis, investigation of systemic bone loss following a bone fracture or other injuries, and investigation of the role of sensory nerves in bone metabolism and adaptation.
Research/Academic Interests
Dr. Christiansen is a biomedical engineer with expertise in musculoskeletal adaptation, mechanobiology, bone imaging, and small animal models of injury, mechanical loading, or unloading (disuse). His primary research interest is the adaptation of musculoskeletal tissues to the mechanical environment, injury, and aging, and how these adaptations can lead to clinically relevant diseases such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
Division
Orthopaedic Research
Undergraduate School
B.S., University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 2001
Other School
M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis MO 2004
Other School
Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis MO 2007
Fellowship
Orthopaedic Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston MA 2008-2010
International Bone and Mineral Society, Sun Valley Workshop: Musculoskeletal Biology, Alice L. Jee Memorial Young Investigator Award, 2014
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Junior Faculty Osteoporosis Research Award, 2014
International Bone and Mineral Society/American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Harold M. Frost Young Investigator Award, 2011
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Young Investigator Award, 2010
United States Bone and Joint Decade - Young Investigators Initiative Participant, 2010
Hsia AW, Jbeily EH, Mendez ME, Cunningham HC, Biris KK, Bang H, Lee CA, Loots GG, Christiansen BA. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis progression is diminished by early mechanical unloading and anti-inflammatory treatment in mice. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2021 Dec;29(12):1709-1719. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2021.09.014. Epub 2021 Oct 13. PMID:34653605.
Emami AJ, Sebastian A, Lin YY, Yee CS, Osipov B, Loots GG, Alliston T, Christiansen BA. Altered canalicular remodeling associated with femur fracture in mice. J Orthop Res. 2021 Jun 15:10.1002/jor.25119. doi:10.1002/jor.25119. Epub ahead of print. PMID:34129247.
Osipov B, Paralkar MP, Emami AJ, Cunningham HC, Tjandra PM, Pathak S, Langer HT, Baar K, Christiansen BA. Sex differences in systemic bone and muscle loss following femur fracture in mice. J Orthop Res. 2021 Jun 3:10.1002/jor.25116. doi:10.1002/jor.25116. Epub ahead of print. PMID:34081357.
Tjandra PM, Paralkar MP, Osipov B, Chen YJ, Zhao F, Ripplinger CM, Christiansen BA. Systemic bone loss following myocardial infarction in mice. J Orthop Res. 2021 Apr;39(4):739-749. doi:10.1002/jor.24867. Epub 2020 Oct 6. PMID:32965732.
Emami AJ, Toupadakis CA, Telek SM, Fyhrie DP, Yellowley CE, Christiansen BA. Age Dependence of Systemic Bone Loss and Recovery Following Femur Fracture in Mice. J Bone Miner Res. 2019 Jan;34(1):157-170. doi:10.1002/jbmr.3579. Epub 2018 Sep 24. PMID:30189111.
Christiansen BA, Harrison SL, Fink HA, Lane NE; Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. Incident fracture is associated with a period of accelerated loss of hip BMD: the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. Osteoporos Int. 2018 Oct;29(10):2201-2209. doi:10.1007/s00198-018-4606-6. Epub 2018 Jul 10. PMID:29992510.
Cunningham HC, West DWD, Baehr LM, Tarke FD, Baar K, Bodine SC, Christiansen BA. Age-dependent bone loss and recovery during hindlimb unloading and subsequent reloading in rats. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2018 Jul 18;19(1):223. doi:10.1186/s12891-018-2156-x. PMID:30021585.
Heffner MA, Genetos DC, Christiansen BA. Bone adaptation to mechanical loading in a mouse model of reduced peripheral sensory nerve function. PLoS One. 2017 Oct 31;12(10):e0187354. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0187354. PMID:29088267.
Hsia AW, Anderson MJ, Heffner MA, Lagmay EP, Zavodovskaya R, Christiansen BA. Osteophyte formation after ACL rupture in mice is associated with joint restabilization and loss of range of motion. J Orthop Res. 2017 Mar;35(3):466-473. doi:10.1002/jor.23252. Epub 2016 Apr 13. PMID:27031945.
Christiansen BA, Anderson MJ, Lee CA, Williams JC, Yik JH, Haudenschild DR. Musculoskeletal changes following non-invasive knee injury using a novel mouse model of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2012 Jul;20(7):773-82. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2012.04.014. Epub 2012 Apr 21. PMID:22531459.