NOVUS Event Highlights Scientific Contributions of Late Poultry Scientist
CHESTERFIELD, MO (May 22, 2025) – The leader in intelligent nutrition will honor the professional life and scientific contributions of the late Julia Dibner, Ph.D., during an event at the Poultry Science Association (PSA) 2025 Annual Meeting in July.
The symposium, Honoring Dr. Dibner: Pioneering Poultry Science and Lasting Influence on Early Nutrition, Gut Health, and Cellular Metabolism, will be held at 9:00 a.m. EST on July 16.
Dibner was a founding member of the research team at NOVUS and a pillar in the animal agriculture industry. She dedicated nearly 30 years to poultry research before retiring from the industry in 2014. She passed away on October 1, 2024.
“This symposium celebrates the extraordinary legacy of Dr. Dibner who forever changed the landscape of poultry science,” says Bob Buresh, NOVUS executive poultry technical services manager. “Dr. Dibner’s groundbreaking work in early chicken nutrition, cellular metabolism, and the biological and physiological needs of poultry addressed some of the industry’s most pressing challenges and set new standards for scientific achievement.”
NOVUS Sr. Director of Strategic Initiatives and Accounts Collaboration Mercedes Vazquez-Anon, who worked under Dibner during her early research career, says Dibner’s tireless dedication, innovative spirit, and unparalleled mentorship has profoundly influenced not only the direction of research but also the lives of countless scientists who continue to build on her discoveries.
During the event on July 16, symposium presenters will highlight how her pioneering contributions to early nutrition, immune cell function, and gut health remain foundational to modern poultry science and directly impact the work the industry is doing today. Presentations include:
- Building Strong Foundations: Advances in Early Nutrition for Poultry
Zehava Uni, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem - A Legacy of Scientific Influence: Intestinal Physiology Measures and Approaches with Meaningful Impact
Todd Applegate, Ph.D., University of Georgia - That is so Cool! I Know, Right? To Glutathione and Beyond Walter Bottje, Ph.D., University of Arkansas
- Julia Dibner: A Lifelong Dedication to Advancing Poultry Science – Accomplishments, Milestones, and Lasting Impact
Mercedes Vazquez-Anon, Ph.D., NOVUS
“We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate Dr. Dibner’s legacy, which demonstrates how the work of a scientist is never truly complete,” Buresh says. “Having this event at the PSA Annual Meeting is very appropriate; Dr. Dibner holds the distinction of having authored the all-time most-cited article in the Poultry Science Association’s flagship journal, Poultry Science, with over 1,000 citations.”
The symposium is open to all PSA annual meeting attendees. For more information about the event, visit novusint.com/events.
The 2025 PSA Annual Meeting will take place on July 14-17 at the Raleigh Marriott City Center in North Carolina. This event offers attendees exposure to the latest science and research within the poultry science field. For more information and to register, visit poultryscience.org.
