Austin is a graduate of University College Dublin, where he completed his postgraduate training in Ireland before moving to the United States for clinical and research fellowships at the University of Michigan, later serving as Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston.
He is internationally recognised for his work in health outcomes research, particularly in advancing understanding of kidney disease and its impact on patients and healthcare systems. Founding Director of the Health Research Institute at UL, he led the development and delivery of the University’s health research strategy.
Austin leads the Kidney Research Consortium and has driven major national initiatives, including the development of Ireland’s Kidney Disease Surveillance System and National Registry and contributes to several international advisory groups, reflecting his ongoing impact as a clinician, researcher, and healthcare leader.