Tina Rinker

Kristina Diane Rinker

PhD, PEng

Positions

Professor

Schulich School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Member

Libin Cardiovascular Institute

Full Member

The Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases

Child Health & Wellness Researcher

Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute

Member

Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute

Contact information

Web presence

Phone number

Office: 403.210.9733

Location

Office: CCIT122

For media enquiries, contact

Joe McFarland
Media Relations and Communications Specialist

Cell: +1.403.671.2710
Email: Joe.Mcfarland@ucalgary.ca

Background

Educational Background

Bachelor of Science Chemical Engineering, University of Alabama, 1992

Doctor of Philosophy Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University, 1998

Research Assistant Professor Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 2000

Biography

Dr. Rinker's research is highly collaborative locally and internationally focusing on molecular diagnostics and therapeutics in cancer and cardiovascular diseases, including transcriptional regulation, role of fluid forces, cell and nanoparticle behavior, and clinical studies. Dr. Rinker is actively involved in technology development and commercialization through university spin‐off companies and industrial and governmental partnerships in the areas of cardiovascular and cancer detection and treatment. Her previous academic appointments include being an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Colorado State University (2000‐2005) and an Assistant Research Professor in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University (1998‐2000). 

Research

Areas of Research

Diagnostics and therapeutics technology development
  • In vitro molecular diagnostics
  • biomarkers
  • transcriptomics
  • drug targets
  • medical devices
  • mechanobiology
  • Fluid force effects on transcriptional regulation and biomarker expression
Summary of Research

Our research focuses on how blood flow affects cell and tissue behavior with relevance to cardiovascular health and disease, stem cells, and cancer. Cells are strongly affected by environmental conditions and adapt by changing their physiology to better suit new environments. One strong environmental factor is fluid flow. Fluid forces resulting from fluid flow can modulate events such as bacterial infection, mammalian cell viability in culture, cancer metastasis, stem cell differentiation, and susceptibility to disease in blood vessels. Understanding the components and mechanisms for cellular response to fluid forces may therefore help us better inhibit infections, more effectively produce bioproducts from mammalian cell culture, and better develop diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. Our work is highly collaborative locally and internationally and has a translational focus around molecular diagnostics, tissue models and devices, drug target identification, and testing of pharmaceuticals, nanoparticles and other agents.

Publications

In the News

  • New clues about heart health uncovered by team of biomedical engineers. An engineering school isn’t where you normally hear about advancements that could improve heart health, but researchers at the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineer. University of Calgary News Release. (2011)