Kevin Bieniek

Dr. Kevin Bieniek is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Director of the Biggs Institute Brain Bank. He holds a B.Sc. in Biology and Psychology from Iowa State University and completed graduate and postdoctoral training at the Mayo Clinic. His research focuses on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and neurodegeneration, particularly chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), using neuropathological approaches to study brain tissue from deceased donors.

Dr. Bieniek’s work emphasizes understanding CTE’s prevalence, risk factors, and diagnostic methods. He leads efforts to build the Biggs Institute Brain Bank, facilitating collaborative research on neurological disorders. His mentoring style prioritizes empowering trainees to pursue independent scientific inquiry. Personal interests include cycling with family and backyard chicken farming.

His research spans neurodegenerative mechanisms, genetic risk factors, and advanced imaging techniques. Key contributions include defining CTE pathology in athletes and advancing digital pathology tools for tau protein analysis. Dr. Bieniek advocates for evidence-based science communication to address public health concerns around contact sports and brain health.