Christopher J. Hunter, Ph.D., P.Eng.

Dr. Christopher J. Hunter is a Principal Engineer at Synaptic Analysis Consulting Group. Dr. Hunter investigates issues involving medical device design and failure, as well as regenerative medicine systems. He has expertise in the areas of cartilage and intervertebral disc injury, the response of biological tissues to loading, and tissue engineering/regenerative medicine therapies. His work includes development and implementation of regenerative medicine therapies and medical devices for the treatment of articular cartilage and intervertebral disc degeneration, and analysis of injuries related to consumer products and surgically implantable orthopaedic devices. His technical skills include finite element analysis, materials testing systems, cell and tissue analysis, general apparatus design, and machine tool operation.

Dr. Hunter is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education in the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary. He also holds adjunct positions in Civil Engineering in the Schulich School and Cell Biology and Anatomy in the Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Hunter is an Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Scholar as well as an Alberta Ingenuity Fund New Faculty recipient. He has previously held positions as the Junior McCaig Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary, a postdoctoral associate in the McCaig Centre at the University of Calgary, and as a research assistant at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Publications

Duncan NA, Bruehlmann SB, Hunter CJ, Shao X, Kelly E. “In Situ Cell-Matrix Mechanics in Tendon Fascicles and Seeded Collagen Gels: Implications for Biomaterials Design.” J Biomech (In review)

Desmoulin GT, Szostek JS, Khan AH, Al-Ameri OS, Hunter CJ, Bogduk N, Correction of Abnormal Cervical Vertebral Axes of Rotation and its Relation to Treatment Assessment, Pain, Disability, and Psychosocial Measures.” Orthopaedics (In review)

Louman-Gardiner KL, Coombe D, and Hunter CJ, “Computational models used to simulate the aging of an intervertebral disc from grade 1 to 2” J Biomech (In review)

Malekian M, Owoc JS, Park SS, and Hunter CJ, “Experimental Comparison between Intervertebral Disc (IVD) and Fused Joint Dynamics” ASME J Biomech Eng (In Press)

Desmoulin GT, Reno C, and Hunter CJ, “Free axial vibrations at 0-200 Hz positively affect extracellular matrix mRNA expression in bovine nucleus pulposi” Spine (In press)

Hill TE, Desmoulin GT, and Hunter CJ, “Review: is vibration truly an injurious stimuli in the human spine?” J Biomech (In press).

Schwab JH, Boland PJ, Agaram NP, Socci ND, Guo T, O’Toole GC, Block JA, Ostroumov E, Hunter CJ, Doty S, Ferrone S, Healey JH, Antonescu CR. “High Transcriptional Expression of Extracellular Matrix Genes By Both Human Chordoma and Chondrosarcoma Tumors.” Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy, 2008 58(3):339-49.

Ostroumov E and Hunter CJ. “Identifying mechanisms for therapeutic intervention in chordoma: c-Met oncoprotein.” Spine 2008 33(25):p. 2774-80.

Eggum TJ and Hunter CJ. “A novel system for application of hydrostatic pressure to growing cells and tissues.” ASME J Biomech, 2008 130(6): 064501.

Hunter CJ, “The Notochordal Cell in the Intervertebral Disc” Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2007 15(Supp 2): B17-20.

Hunter CJ, Bianchi S, Chen P, Muldrew K. “A Novel Osmoregulatory Organelle Found in Notochordal Cells of the Intervertebral Disc.” Molecular and Cellular Biomechanics 2007 4(4): p.227-38.

Ostroumov E and Hunter CJ. “Aspects of phenotype characterization of human chordoma cells in vitro” Spine, 2007 32(26): p. 2957-64.

Mwale F, Wang HT, Petit A, Girard-Lauriault P-L, Hunter CJ, Antoniou J, Wertheimer MR. “The effect of novel nitrogen-rich plasma polymer coatings on the phenotypic profile of notochordal cells.” Biomedical Engineering Online, 2007 6(33).

Shao X and Hunter CJ. “Developing an alginate/chitosan hybrid fiber scaffold for annulus fibrosus cells.” Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2007 82(3): p. 701-10.

Hunter CJ, Matyas JR, Duncan NA. “Cytomorphology of notochordal and chondrocytic cells from the nucleus pulposus: a species comparison.” Journal of Anatomy, 2004. 205: p. 357-62

Hunter CJ, Matyas JR, Duncan NA. “Functional aspects of cellular structures in the notochordal nucleus pulposus: survival and cellular signaling in the canine intervertebral disc.” Spine, 2004 29(10): p. 1099-1104.

Hunter CJ, Levenston ME. “Maturation and integration of tissue engineered cartilages within an in vitro defect repair model.” Tissue Engineering, 2004 10(5-6): p. 736-746.

Hunter CJ, Mouw JK, Levenston ME. “Dynamic compression of chondrocyteseeded fibrin gels inhibits matrix accumulation and the development of mechanical properties.” Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2004. 12(2): p. 117-30.

Hunter CJ, Matyas JR, Duncan NA. “The notochordal cell in the nucleus pulposus: a review in the context of tissue engineering.” Tissue Engineering, 2003. 9(4): p. 667-77.

Hunter CJ, Matyas JR, Duncan NA. “The three-dimensional architechture of the notochordal nucleus pulposus: novel observations on cell structures in the canine nucleus pulposus.” Journal of Anatomy, 2003. 202(3): p. 279-92.

Hunter CJ, Levenston ME. “The influence of repair tissue maturation on the response to oscillatory compression in a cartilage defect repair model” Biorheology, 2002. 39(1-2): p. 79-88.

Hunter CJ, Imler SM, Malaviya PM, Nerem RM, Levenston ME. “Mechanical compression alters gene expression and extracellular matrix synthesis by chondrocytes cultured in collagen-I gels.” Biomaterials, 2002. 23(4): p. 1249- 59.

Waniewski TA, Hunter CJ, and Brennen CE, “Bubble measurements downstream of hydraulic jumps.” International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 2001. 27(7): p. 1271-84.

Neitzel GP, Nerem RM, Sambanis A, Smith MK, Wick TM, Brown JB, Hunter CJ, Jovanovic I, Malaviya P, Saini S, Tan S. “Cell function and tissue growth in bioreactors: fluid-mechanical and chemical environments.” J Jpn Soc Microgravity Appl, 1998. 15(Supplement II): p. 602-7.

Invited Posters/Abstracts

Ostroumov E and Hunter CJ, “Human chordoma cell phenotype in vitro” First International Chordoma Research Workhsop, May 3-4, 2007.

Hunter CJ, “Towards cellular regeneration of the intervertebral disc” Canadian Arthritis Network Restoration of Joint Function Workshop, June 8, 2006.

Peer-Reviewed Full Conference Papers

Swamy G, Salo P, Hunter CJ, Matyas JR, Jirik F. “Pinprick Injury Of Mouse Intervertebral Disc Mimics Rabbit Pinprick” 55th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. Feb 2009. Las Vegas, NV.

Greaves, C.Y., Gilchrist, S., Morris, T., Cripton P.A., Hunter C.J. “Impact properties of bovine tail intervertebral discs” Northwest Biomechanics Symposium. May 2008. Boise, ID.

Malekian M, Park S, Hunter CJ. “Experimental Modal Analysis of Intervertebral Disc Joint Dynamics.” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference. June 2008. San Marco Island, FL.

Malekian M, Park S, Hunter CJ, Xiao X. “Identification of Intervertebral Disc (IVD) Joint Dynamics Using Experimental Modal Analysis.” Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering. June 2008. Ottawa, ON.

Ostroumov E and Hunter CJ. “c-Met oncogene in human chordoma cells.” 54th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. March 2008. San Francisco, CA.

Ostroumov E, Swamy G, and Hunter CJ. “Phenotype characterization of human chordoma cells.” 29th Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Conference. June 2006. Vancouver, BC.

Eggum T and Hunter CJ. “’Educated’ cells for IVD therapy: differential response of mscs to oxygen, glucose, and notochord conditioned medium.” 52nd Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. March 2006. Chicago, IL.

Shao X and Hunter CJ. “Developing an alginate/chitosan hybrid fiber scaffold for intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells.” 52nd Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. March 2006. Chicago, IL.

Bianchi S, Chen P, Muldrew K, Hunter CJ. “An experimental and computational examination of osmotic stress response in adult canine nucleus pulposus cells.” 51st Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. February 2005. Washington, DC.

Chung J, Hunter CJ. “Gene expression response of annulus fibrosus fibrocytes, articular chondrocytes and bone marrow stromal cells to influence by adult nucleus pulposus cells.” 51st Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. February 2005. Washington, DC.

Shao X, Hunter CJ. “Evaluation of a 3-D alginate scaffold for intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells tissue engineering.” 51st Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. February 2005. Washington, DC.

Chung J, Hunter CJ. “Gene expression response of annulus fibrosus fibrocytes, articular chondrocytes, and bone marrow stromal cells to influence by adult nucleus pulposus cells.” 5th Combined Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Societies. October 2004. Banff, AB, Canada.

Hunter CJ, Matyas JR, Duncan NA. “Gene expression in an endplate perforation model of intervertebral disc degeneration.” 50th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. March 2004. San Francisco, CA.

Hunter CJ, Matyas JR, Duncan NA. “Hypoosmotic stress induces changes in intracellular compartmentalization in notochordal cells from adult canine nuclei pulposi.” 50th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. March 2004. San Francisco, CA.

Hunter CJ, Matyas JR, Duncan NA. “The comparative cytomorphology of nucleus pulposus cells.” 49th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. February 2003. New Orleans, LA.

Hunter CJ, Matyas JR, Duncan NA. “Cellular architecture of the canine nucleus pulposus.” 49th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. February 2003. New Orleans, LA.

Hunter CJ, Levenston ME. “Oscillatory compression of articular cartilage: release of cell signaling molecules and the effect of conditioned medium on chondrocytes in agarose gel culture.” Fourth World Congress of Biomechanics. August 2002. Calgary, AB.

Imler SM, Hunter CJ, Vanderploeg EJ, and Levenston ME. “Matrix biosynthesis due to exogenous stimuli differs for cartilage and fibrocartilage.” Fourth World Congress of Biomechanics. August 2002. Calgary, AB.

Hunter CJ, Levenston ME. “Oscillatory compression stimulates matrix production in an in vitro articular cartilage repair model.” 48th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. February 2002. Dallas, TX.

Hunter CJ, Levenston ME. “Native/engineered cartilage adhesion varies with scaffold material and does not correlate to gross biochemical content.” 48th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. February 2002. Dallas, TX.

Hunter CJ, Mouw JK, Levenston ME. “Oscillatory compression inhibits matrix accumulation by chondrocytes in fibrin gel culture.” 48th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. February 2002. Dallas, TX.

Imler SM, Vanderploeg EJ, Hunter CJ, Levenston ME. “IGF-1 stimulation of meniscal biosynthesis.” 48th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. February 2002. Dallas, TX.

Mouw JK, Hunter CJ, Levenston ME. “Modulation of porcine tendon biosynthesis by in vitro mechanical load.” 48th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. February 2002. Dallas, TX.

Imler SM, Vanderploeg EJ, Hunter CJ, Levenston ME. “Static and oscillatory compression modulate protein and proteoglycan synthesis by meniscal fibrochondrocytes.” 47th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. February 2001. San Francisco, CA.

Hunter CJ, Shieh AC, Nerem RM, Levenston ME. “Effects of collagens I and II and chitosan on chondrocyte behavior in fibrin gel cultures.” 6th World Biomaterials Congress. May 2000. Kamuela, HI.

Hunter CJ, Malaviya P, Nerem RM, Levenston ME. “Static compression inhibits collagen I and II gene expression in chondrocyte-laden collagen gels.” 46th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. March 2000. Orlando, FL.

Shieh A, Hunter CJ, Nerem RM, Levenston ME. “Collagen induces contraction and inhibits matrix assembly by chondrocytes in fibrin gel cultures.” 46th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. March 2000. Orlando, FL.

Hunter CJ, Malaviya P, Nerem RM, Levenston ME. “Static compression inhibits collagen I and II gene expression in chondrocyte-laden collagen gels.” 46th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. March 2000. Orlando, FL.

Wu F, Davisson T, Dunkelman N, De la Torre R, Hunter CJ, Jain D. “Development of a Dynamic Bioreactor for Synthesis of Tissue Engineered Cartilage.” Bioartificial Organs II, Engineering Foundation Conference. July 1998. Banff, Canada.

Malaviya P, Hunter CJ, Seliktar D, Schreiber R, Symons KT, Ratcliffe A, Nerem RM. “Fluid-induced shear stress promotes chondrocyte phenotype alteration.” 44th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. February 1998. New Orleans, LA.

Abstracts

Hu R, Duncan NA, Hunter CJ, Bruehlmann S, Kawchuk GN, Seck C-S, Matyas JR. “Altered cell morphology and gene expression in a porcine endplate perforation model of intervertebral disc degeneration.” 38th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Orthopaedic Research Society. June 2004. Calgary, AB, Canada.

Hunter CJ, Matyas JR, Duncan NA. “Functional behaviour of notochordal cell clusters in the canine nucleus pulposus: cell communication and survival.” 30th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine. May 2003. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Hunter CJ, Levenston ME, Nerem RM. “Engineered/native cartilage adhesion varies with scaffold selection.” 2001 BMES Annual Fall Meeting. October 2001. Durham, NC.

Hunter CJ, Levenston ME. “Oscillatory compression inhibits matrix synthesis by chondrocytes in fibrin gels.” 2001 BMES Annual Fall Meeting. October 2001. Durham, NC.

Imler SM, Hunter CJ, Levenston ME. “Cryopreservation does not impair chondrocyte response to growth factor stimuli.” 2001 BMES Annual Fall Meeting. October 2001. Durham, NC.

Magill C, Hunter CJ, Levenston ME. “A novel bioreactor system for the growth of engineered tissues under mechanical stimulation.” 2001 BMES Annual Fall Meeting. October 2001. Durham, NC.

Vanderploeg EJ, Imler SM, Hunter CJ, Levenston ME. “Oscillatory Tension Modulates Chondrocyte Proliferation, Biosynthesis and Morphology.” 2001 BMES Annual Fall Meeting. October 2001. Durham, NC.

Hunter CJ, Nerem RM, Levenston ME. “Interactions between native and tissue engineered cartilage in a hybrid culture system.” Tissue Engineering Society International. December 2000. Orlando, FL.

Imler SM, Vanderploeg EJ, Hunter CJ, Levenston ME. “Mechanical compression modulates matrix synthesis in meniscal tissue and gels.” Tissue Engineering Society International. December 2000. Orlando, FL.

Malaviya P, Hunter CJ, Seliktar D, Schreiber R, Symons KT, Ratcliffe A, Nerem RM. “Fluid-induced shear stress promotes chondrocyte phenotype alteration.” Keystone Tissue Engineering Symposium. January 1998. Copper Mountain, CO.

KEYNOTE ADDRESSES

Hunter CJ. “The notochordal cell in the intervertebral disc.” World Forum for Spine Research. January 2008. Kyoto, Japan.

Hunter CJ. “The notochordal cell in the intervertebral disc.” International Cartilage Repair Society. October 2007. Warsaw, Poland.

Hunter CJ. “The notochordal cell in the postnatal intervertebral disc.” ECM VI Spinal Motion Segment: From Basic Science to Clinical Application. July 2005. Davos, Switzerland.

Hunter CJ. “Biological repair of the intervertebral disc.” Canadian Orthopaedic Association. May 2003. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Conference cancelled due to SARS outbreak)

Levenston ME, Hunter CJ. “Oscillatory compression of a hybrid engineered/native cartilage culture system.” 2nd International Symposium on Mechanobiology of Cartilage and Chondrocyte. April 2001. Paris, France.

Levenston ME, Hunter CJ. “Unconfined compression of articular cartilage explants: electromechanical phenomena and mechanotransduction.” 12th Conference of the European Society of Biomechanics. August 2000. Dublin, Ireland.

Education

• B.S 1996. Engineering and Applied Science. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
• M.S., 2000. Mechanical Engineering. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
• Ph.D., 2001. Bioengineering. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
• Post-doctoral fellow, 2002-03. Bioengineering. University of Calgary,Calgary, Alberta

Academic and Other Appointments

• Associate Professor, MME and CBRE, 2008-
• Assistant Professor: Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (MME), Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2004-2008
• Assistant Professor: Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education (CBRE), Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2004-2008
• Adjunct Research Assistant Professor: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2004-
• Adjunct Assistant Professor: Department of Civil Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2003-
• Junior McCaig Professor: McCaig Centre for Joint Injury and Arthritis Research, University of Calgary, 2003-2004

Professional Certification and Memberships in Learned Societies

• Scientist Knowledge Translation Training certificate (AHFMR), 2009
• Professional Engineer, Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA)
• Member, American Society for Quality (ASQ)
• Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
• Member, ASTM International
• Member, Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS)
• Member, AO Spine International

Awards, Distinctions, and Fellowships

• Nominee, University of Calgary Teaching Excellence Award, 2006
• Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Health Scholar, 2005-2010
• Alberta Ingenuity Fund New Faculty, 2005-2007
• Finalist, Orthopaedic Research Society New Investigator Award, 2003
• Medtronic Graduate Research Fellowship, 2001
• International Society of Biomaterials Travel Award, 2000
• National Institutes of Health Cellular Engineering Traineeship, 1997-2000
• Whitaker Graduate Supplement Fellowship, 1996-2000