Nicholas Dillon

Nicholas Dillon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas, affiliated with the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. His research focuses on combating antibiotic resistance through mechanistic studies of host-pathogen interactions, bacterial evolution, and novel therapeutic regimens.

• Ph.D. in Microbiology (2017), University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
• Postdoctoral training in Host-Pathogen Interactions (2021), University of California, San Diego

The Dillon Lab investigates three core aspects of antibiotic resistance: evolutionary mechanisms, treatment strategies for resistant infections, and methods to prevent resistance emergence. Their interdisciplinary approach integrates microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, and systems biology, utilizing in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo infection models.

Recent research trends highlight studies on Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug mechanisms, transcriptional responses in multidrug-resistant pathogens, and synergistic antibiotic combinations. Publications emphasize computational modeling of gene regulation, environmental influences on resistance, and host immune modulation.

• 2021 Royal Society of Chemistry's Organic Division Horizon Prize: Robert Robinson Award in Synthetic Organic Chemistry
• 2020 NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellowship for advancing pediatric clinical pharmacology

The lab develops high-throughput screening platforms for drug discovery and explores sulfur-based chemistry for rapid medicinal compound testing. They maintain active collaborations with clinical and computational teams to bridge basic research with translational applications.