Congratulations to this year’s BME Outstanding Dissertation Award Winner, Christian Lewis!
Dr. Christian Lewis received his Ph.D. degree under Biomedical Engineering’s Dr. Robby Bowles. His exceptional work ethic and productivity are exemplified by his 4 original research publications in high impact journals, 7 oral presentations and 17 poster presentations. Several of Christians’ research presentations won awards including: 1st place Poster Award, 2024 ORS PSRS 7th International Spine Research Symposium; 1st place Spine Section Poster Award, 2025 ORS Annual Meeting; 1st place Spine Section Podium Award, 2025 ORS Annual Meeting. He was also the graduate mentor to The University Technology Licensing Office’s University of Utah 2025 “Excellence in Innovation” Undergraduate Research Award winner, BME student, Brynne Byars. Additionally, Christian is named in 4 University of Utah invention disclosures involving his dissertation research.
Christian’s dissertation exemplifies “originality and creativity” in the dissertation award criteria by focusing on new methods to genetically manipulate spinal disc cells to induce therapeutic outcomes in spinal disc disease. Exploiting 2 different Nobel Prize-winning molecular techniques to alter inflammatory, degenerative and disease pathways in these cells, Christian sought to avoid spine disc degeneration and serious human disease implications. Through this process, Christian discovered a new gene, ZNF865 (BLST), that regulates back pain via disc cell senescence and DNA damage mechanisms.
His BME advisor, Dr. Robby Bowles, had this to say about his significant contributions, “Christian was the type of graduate student every principal investigator dreams of having. He showed great tenacity in tackling a challenging project. Nothing was known about this protein when Christian began his work, and now, the only mechanistic data known in the world was produced by Christian during this project. His work will have a lasting impact on human health and I couldn’t be more proud of Christian.” Nice work, Dr. Lewis!