Their work placed them in the heart of research into Mycobacterium leprae, the bacteria that causes leprosy. One of their primary projects examined whether armadillo livers could provide a reliable source of M. leprae for research. “There was a strong correlation between early dissemination of armadillos and higher M. leprae viability counts.”They also worked on a project testing the effectiveness of a new compound against M. leprae infection using radio respirometry. “Receiving the scholarship ultimately made this opportunity possible,” Wright said. “It has not only impacted my future, but also contributed to the broader research into leprosy.”Topics: Biology