Surgical excellence, high transplantation volume, an in-house transplant biorepository, and organ preservation and regeneration put the Division of Transplantation Surgery and the Ohio State Comprehensive Transplant Center at the forefront of translational research.
“Our division’s research is uniquely positioned to translate scientific discoveries into clinical advancements,” says Sylvester Black, MD, PhD, professor of Surgery and co-director of the COPPER Laboratory. “Our team works at the intersection of cutting-edge basic science and clinical applications, addressing real-world problems in transplantation.”
Austin Schenk, MD, PhD, associate professor of Surgery, adds, “Transplantation is one of the most rewarding jobs in surgery. Each operation transforms a life, and each scientific discovery has the potential to touch countless lives. The opportunity to do both as a surgeon-scientist inspires me every day to make scientific contributions that improve outcomes for transplant recipients.”
The division’s research focuses on tangible innovations that can change transplantation surgery nationally and globally. Currently, three active surgeon-scientists have more than 20 ongoing projects with collaborations throughout The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Dr. Schenk and his team are developing novel reagents that promote the growth of regulatory T cells. By increasing immune regulation, they can decrease or eliminate traditional immunosuppressive drugs that cause kidney injury, diabetes and cancer, ultimately improving the quality and length of life for transplant recipients.
In health-services research, he partnered with Brittany Hand, PhD, from the Ohio State University College of Medicine's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, to study access to kidney transplantation in patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“Equity in access to transplant is one of the most pressing issues in our field and integral to public trust in the transplant system,” Dr. Schenk says.
In the COPPER Laboratory, Dr. Black and his team are pioneering the development of a new class of CD38 inhibitors, a therapy that aims to reduce damage when blood supply returns to donor livers after being cut off, especially in livers from older donors and those donated after circulatory death.
“These novel compounds have shown promising results in preliminary testing, with the potential to significantly improve the viability of donor livers that would otherwise be deemed unusable,” Dr. Black says. “This work is part of a broader effort to expand access to liver transplantation by addressing the shortage of suitable organs.”
Dr. Black emphasizes how gratifying it is to see firsthand how his research can improve the lives of his patients and their families.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of my career has been seeing the direct impact that scientific innovation can have on patient lives,” he says. “As a transplant surgeon, I often work with patients for whom a liver transplant is their last chance at life. Being able to contribute to research that may increase the availability of donor organs is incredibly fulfilling.”