Leila Chang, a senior Poultry Science major, recently showcased her undergraduate research at the 2025 Diversity in Science Symposium, held on April 7. Hosted by the Texas A&M Chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), this university-wide event celebrates the innovative contributions of student researchers from a variety of backgrounds and academic disciplines.

Leila’s innovative project, titled “Stem Cell Crypts for 3D Cecal Organoid Development to Mitigate Histomoniasis in Turkeys,” focuses on developing advanced models to better understand and combat histomoniasis, a parasitic disease that poses health and economic concerns in turkey production. By isolating and cultivating stem cell crypts to grow three-dimensional organoids that mimic the turkey cecum, her work aims to explore potential therapeutic strategies and gain a deeper understanding of host-pathogen interactions.

Leila’s research, under the mentorship of Yuhua Farnell, Ph.D., represents a valuable step forward in advancing the industry's understanding of blackhead disease and contributes to the ongoing effort to improve disease prevention and management strategies in the poultry industry.