Schenk_Austin_720x720395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 168
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Phone: 614-366-1925
Fax: 614-293-4541
Austin.Schenk@osumc.edu

Austin D. Schenk, MD, PhD, is an abdominal transplant surgeon at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Division of Transplantation actively practicing liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation. His research background includes work in biophysical chemistry, transplantation immunology and cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Schenk also directs a transplant immunology research laboratory dedicated to improving clinical outcomes in solid organ transplantation.

Research Interests

  • T-Cell / Endothelial cell interactions
  • TCR repertoire diversity
  • Adoptive immunotherapy
  • Measures of human immune competence and frailty

Research Lab Goals

The goal of our research is to improve long-term outcomes in solid organ transplantation through 1) enhanced understanding of the basic immunologic mechanisms that cause allograft rejection, 2) development of novel immunosuppressive strategies, and 3) validation of clinical assays designed to measure human immune frailty.

Research Techniques

  • Murine heterotopic cardiac transplantation
  • Murine skin transplantation
  • TCR repertoire analyses
  • Flow cytometry
  • Cell culture and molecular analytics

Research Funding

  • R01, Impact of ableism and state laws designated to mitigate ableism on organ transplant equity for kidney transplant candidates with intellectual or development disabilities, 8/1/2024–6/30/2029, $2,535,815

Education

Medical Degree: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
PhD: Immunology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute
Internship: Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Residency: General Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Norris Cotton Cancer Center
Fellowship: Abdominal Transplant Surgery, Emory University

PubMed articles  Clinical profile