Csaba Pál

Csaba Pál is a Research Professor and Principal Investigator at the Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit within the Biological Research Center of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on understanding bacterial resistance evolution, particularly against antibiotics, and developing novel antimicrobial strategies. He leads a team exploring high-throughput screening techniques, genome engineering, and systems biology approaches to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Dr. Pál's work integrates experimental and computational methods to study evolutionary dynamics, including the genetic basis of resistance and collateral sensitivity. His lab has contributed significantly to the development of recombineering-based genome editing tools (e.g., pORTMAGE/pSEVAMAGE systems) for precise bacterial genome manipulation.

Recent research highlights include investigations into the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance in clinically relevant pathogens (e.g., ESKAPE pathogens) and the design of balanced dual-targeting antibiotics. His team’s findings on antibiotic hypersensitivity and the genomic landscape of compensatory evolution have advanced strategies for predicting and mitigating resistance.

Dr. Pál collaborates internationally, leading projects funded by initiatives such as the NKFI Research Grant and the János Bolyai Fellowship. His lab trains students and postdoctoral researchers in cutting-edge techniques, emphasizing translational applications in antimicrobial development and microbial systems biology.