Timothy Palzkill

Dr. Timothy Palzkill is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology at Baylor College of Medicine's School of Medicine. He leads the Palzkill Lab, which is housed in the Margaret M. & Albert B. Alkek Building at One Baylor Plaza. His research spans multiple departments including Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his work on antibiotic resistance and viral pathogenesis.

The Palzkill Lab focuses on four primary research areas: (1) Understanding the molecular basis of antibiotic resistance, particularly focusing on β-lactamases that hydrolyze β-lactam antibiotics; (2) Developing small molecule inhibitors of antibiotic resistance enzymes using DNA-encoded chemical libraries and structure-based design; (3) Investigating MCR-1 mediated colistin resistance and developing inhibitors to restore colistin efficacy; and (4) Mapping norovirus epitopes through genomic phage display libraries to guide vaccine and diagnostic development. The lab employs diverse methodologies including phage display, next-generation DNA sequencing, molecular libraries, chemical synthesis, protein purification, enzyme kinetics, and X-ray crystallography.

Analysis of Dr. Palzkill's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on β-lactamase enzymes, particularly KPC and CTX-M variants, with significant work on understanding resistance mechanisms and developing inhibitors. His research increasingly incorporates DNA-encoded chemical libraries for drug discovery, with applications extending to antiviral development including work on SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitors. The lab's norovirus research has made important contributions to understanding the human immune response to viral infections.

Dr. Palzkill has mentored numerous graduate students who have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, and clinical settings. Recent PhD graduates include Allison Judge (Postdoctoral Research Fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center), Lynn Su (Scientist III at Solugen), and David Boragine (Application Engineer Specialist at 3M). His lab maintains an active research program with frequent publications and presentations at scientific conferences, as evidenced by recent student achievements in science communication competitions.

The Palzkill Lab operates as a dynamic research environment utilizing cutting-edge technologies for studying protein structure-function relationships and developing therapeutic interventions. Current projects include developing inhibitors for carbapenemases like NDM, OXA-48, and KPC, investigating the structural basis of MCR-1 catalysis, and mapping norovirus epitopes to understand the humoral immune response during human infections. The lab's collaborative approach is evident in partnerships with the Center for Drug Discovery at Baylor and other research groups focused on antimicrobial resistance and viral pathogenesis.