Cristina is Reader in Digital Health and Head of Digital Education at the University of Salford, co-leading the Digital Health and Medical Imaging research theme. With a background in digital innovation and business development, her work spans academia, industry, and policy. She focuses on digital engagement, creative methods, and reducing the digital divide.

Cristina co-led the development of the Kidney Information Network (KIN), an award-winning national platform for renal patients that now informs wider digital engagement models. She plays a key role in establishing KIN as a Community Interest Company, supporting its sustainability and long-term impact.

She also introduced the Digital Skills Passport (DISKPASS™) to build digital and AI capabilities in the healthcare workforce, and piloted CKD-DiSk, helping people with long-term conditions return to work. Cristina leads the development of digital programmes, contributes to digital research strategies, and is part of the Salford Digital Methods Initiative. She also co-chaired the International Netnography Conference (2023) and the Digital Innovation Festival (2024, 2025).