About

HOPES is a team of faculty and undergraduate students at Stanford University dedicated to making scientific information about Huntington’s disease (HD) more readily accessible to the public. Our goal is to survey the rapidly growing scientific literature on HD and to present this information in a web source. We seek to provide information about causes, symptoms and treatment of HD that reflects current scientific understanding of HD. To date, HOPES resources have reached out to families in over 47 countries.

We emphasize that we are neither medical professionals, nor are we affiliated with the researchers and laboratories mentioned on our pages. The information we present is intended for educational purposes only and should not be construed as offering diagnoses or recommendations. We operate as a not-for-profit public service organization, and our funding is entirely from private sources.

Meet the HOPES Team

  1. Students
  2. Academic Advisors
  3. HOPES Alumni

Students^

Christine Yang Christine Yang (Student Co-Leader & Researcher)

Christine is a current junior from New York majoring in Mathematical and Computational Science. In her role as a student researcher for HOPES, she is passionate about facilitating scientific communication and making HD resources more accessible. She also volunteers with Cardinal Free Clinics and works with Stanford Chemistry, Engineering and Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H). In her free time, she enjoys cooking, visiting aquariums, and watching superhero movies.
Lauren Hinkley Lauren Hinkley (Student Co-Leader &  Researcher)

Lauren is a current junior studying Human Biology with a concentration in the Epidemiology of Neurological Disorders. As a Co-Leader and Student Researcher for HOPES, Lauren is excited to have the opportunity to communicate Huntington’s Disease research and connect with the HD community. She also leads Stanford’s student chapter of Doctors Without Borders, volunteers with the Cardinal Free Clinics and does research in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Beyond her interests in science and healthcare, she enjoys playing volleyball, traveling with friends, and spending time with her dog.
He Yifei He Yifei (Webmaster & Graphic Designer)

Yifei is a sophomore from China majoring in Computer Science. He joined HOPES as a webmaster and a graphic designer in the winter of 2019. Yifei hopes to utilize designing and programming to help the general public know more about Huntington’s disease and provide the patients and their family and friends with reliable and accessible resources.
Sepehr Asgari (Student Researcher)

Sepehr is a current freshman from Indiana planning on majoring in Human Biology.  In his role as a student researcher for HOPES, Sepehr is excited to have the opportunity to communicate HD research and resources in a way that is more accessible.  In addition to HD, Sepehr is passionate about mental health and does research in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.  In his free time, he enjoys cooking, playing ultimate frisbee, and making fire beats.

Academic Advisors^

Catherine Heaney Catherine Heaney, Ph.D. (Faculty adviser, Associate Professor (Teaching) of Psychology and of Medicine (Stanford Prevention Research Center))

Cathy Heaney is a public health social scientist.  Her primary research agenda has been directed at broadening the scope of occupational safety and health research to address not only physical and chemical hazards, but also psychological and social stressors experienced at work.

Toward this aim, she has served on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Board of Scientific Counselors and contributed to the National Occupational Research Agenda.

Currently, Cathy is studying the comprehensive concept of well-being and how it can be promoted through both disease prevention and disease management interventions.  At Stanford, Dr. Heaney has introduced hundreds of students to the joys and challenges of community-based public health research. She became the faculty adviser for HOPES in 2018, following the retirement of Bill Durham.
William Durham William Durham, Ph.D. (Former faculty adviser, Bing Professor Emeritus in Human Biology, Department of Anthropological Sciences)

Bill Durham, Bing Professor Emeritus in Human Biology and Anthropology, was the main faculty advisor to HOPES since the project began in the year 2000 to his retirement in 2018. Author of Coevolution: Genes, Culture, and Human Diversity, Bill has an ongoing interest in the evolution of the human genome and such conditions as Sickle Cell Disease, Adult Lactose Absorption, and Huntington’s disease. In addition to HOPES, Bill served for 16 years as Editor of the Annual Review of Anthropology. In 2018 he was awarded the HDSA community advocate award at the SF Team HOPE Walk, in recognition of his 18 years of service to the HD community.
  • Mike Maloney, Ph.D. – Editing Consultant
  • Ricardo Mouro Pinto, Ph.D. – Editing Consultant
  • Danielle Simmons, Ph.D. – Editing Consultant
  • Morgan Thompson, Ph.D. – Editing Consultant

 

HOPES Alumni^

  • Mason Gonzalez, Human Biology
  • Emma won Glickman- Student Researcher
  • Ryan Jack Treves- Student Researcher and Graphic Designer
  • Cole Holderman- Project Co-Leader and Student Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology and Notation in Science Communication
  • Claudia Heymach- Student Researcher and Podcaster, B.S. in Human Biology
  • Shawn Fenerin- Webmaster, B.S. in Computer Science
  • Leah Slang- Student Researcher and Graphic Designer, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Daniel Holland- Student Researcher, Theater and Performing Arts
  • Linda Shin- Student Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Kristel Bugayong- Graphic Designer, B.A. in Communication
  • Marika Jaeger- Project Co-Leader & Student Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology and M.A. in Earth Systems
  • Ryan Jae – Student Researcher and Photographer, B.S. in Computer Science
  • Ian Carlo Macato – Webmaster, B.S. in Symbolic Systems
  • Ivan Suarez Robles – Webmaster, B.S. in Computer Science
  • Annie Rempel – Project Co-leader & Graphic Designer, B.A. in Human Biology and M.A. in Earth Systems
  • Natty Jumreornvong – Project Co-leader & Student Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Dani Lucas – Graphic Designer, B.S. in Architectural Design
  • Hannah Boutros – Student Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Caitlin Esparza – Student Researcher & Project Co-leader, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Kristen Powers – Student Researcher & Project Co-leader, B.A. in African and African American Studies
  • Lina Vadlamani – Student Researcher & Project Co-leader, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Habib Khoury – Student Researcher
  • Stephanie Tang – Webmaster
  • Laura Groenendaal – Web Developer, B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science
  • Cindy Yu – Web Developer
  • Will St. Amant – Student Researcher & Project Co-leader, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Emily Ling – Student Researcher & Web Developer
  • Olivia Cords – Student Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Serenity Nguyen – Graphic Designer, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
  • Ravali Reddy – Project Leader & Student Researcher, B.A. in Communication, minor in Biology
  • Brian Ombonga – Web developer, B.A. in Science, Technology and Society
  • Cindy Au – Graphic designer, B.S. in Biomedical engineering
  • Jeffrey Choi – Student Researcher, B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Classics
  • Amy Lanctot – Student Researcher, B.S. in Biology
  • John Pulvera – Web developer, B.S. in Computer Science
  • Julia Nguyen – Student Researcher, B.S. in Biology
  • Iberia Zafira – Graphic designer, B.S. Earth Systems
  • Aimee Zhang – Project Leader & Student Researcher, B.A. in Psychology
  • Stephanie Liou – Project Leader & Student Researcher & Webmaster, B.S. in Science, Technology, and Society
  • Briana Tatum – Student Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Yi Lu – Project Leader & Student Researcher, B.A. in Anthropology
  • Elizabeth Heimbaugh – Graphic Designer, B.A. in English
  • Joey Masri – Project Leader & Graphic Designer, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Margot Hedlin – Project Leader & Student Researcher, B.S. in Biology
  • Pooja Bakhai, Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Tiffany Wang, Project Leader & Researcher, B.S. in Biology
  • Faren Clum, Project Leader & Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Danny Neumann, Web Developer, B.S. in Geophysics
  • Andrew Pipathsouk – Researcher, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
  • Chelsea Garnett – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Jean Ansolabehere – Researcher, Senior in Human Biology and English
  • Natalie Justicz – Graphic Artist, Senior in Human Biology
  • Adam Hepworth – Project Leader & Researcher, Senior in Human Biology and Philosophy
  • Mesa Schumacher – Graphic Artist, B.A. in Anthropological Science
  • Amy Frohnmayer – Researcher, Psychology
  • Eric Whitney – Researcher, Human Biology
  • Jonathan Dyal – Project Leader & Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Justine Seidenfeld – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Matt Woloszyn – Researcher, English
  • Alicia Follmar – Researcher, Human Biology
  • Aliyya Haque – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Christina Chen – Project Leader & Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology, ’07
  • Devon McGee – Project Leader & Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology, ’06
  • Stanislav Jourin – Art Director, M.S. in Digital Imaging & Design at NYU, ’04
  • Kim Taub – Project leader & Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology, ’05
  • Taylor Altman – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Jia Hou – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Agnieszka Milczarek – Researcher, B.S. in Biology and B.A. in English
  • Leon Hsu – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology, ’05
  • Clare Tobin – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology
  • Michael Morici – Researcher, B.S. in Biology
  • Tonkid Chantrasmi – Web developer, Graduate Student in Mechanical Engineering
  • Shawn Fu – Web developer & graphic artist, B.S. in Biology, ’03
  • Amy Hsu – Project leader, B.S. in Mathematical and Computational Science, ’02
  • Matt Stenerson – Project leader & researcher, B.A. in Human Biology, ’03
  • Cathy Barnard – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology, ’04
  • Kaizad Cama – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology, ’03
  • Peter Chang – Researcher & web developer, B.S. in Biology ’03
  • Darwin Chen – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology, ’02
  • Tucker Cunningham – Web developer & graphic artist, Senior in Computer Science
  • Jaclyn Czaja – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology, ’02
  • Karen Hammond – Researcher, B.A. in Psychology at Carleton College, ’03
  • Kelvin Ho – Web developer & graphic artist, B.S. in Computer Science, ’04
  • Tracy Ho – Researcher, Senior in Human Biology
  • Vinita Kailasanath – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology and American Studies, ’03
  • Shashikant Khandelwal – Web Developer, Graduate Student in Computer Science
  • Ruth Lo – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology, ’04
  • Jean-Gabriel Morard – Web developer, Graduate Student in Computer Science
  • Melissa Schapiro – Researcher, B.S. in Biology & Psychology, ’04
  • Gina Schiel – Researcher, Senior in Human Biology
  • Elyn Tan – Researcher, B.A. in Human Biology, ’03
  • Joakim Vinberg – Web developer and graphic artist, B.S. in Biotechnology, ’04
  • Belinda Fu, M.D. – Faculty advisor, Lecturer, Department of Human Biology
  • Joanna Mountain, Ph.D. – Faculty advisor, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropological Sciences and Department of Genetics
  • Ronald Barrett, R.N., Ph.D. – Faculty advisor, Assistant Professor in Medical Anthropology