Natty is a Human Biology Major with an area of concentration in Health Technology Policy and Management. She co-founded an electronic health records company that operates in SE Asia in over 20 mobile clinics and for over 10,000 patients. In her free time, she loves writing medical and science related creative stories. At HOPES, she aims to start a technology archive with articles on assistive technology, expand the global HD section to cover key policy issues in Asia, and tackle the digital story telling section by writing short stories related to mental illness and social stigma. Other than her whimsical interests in technology, social entrepreneurship and writing, she also loves her 23 dogs, 13 cats and 2 water buffaloes back in Thailand.

Ivan Suarez Robles is a member of the Class of 2017.  Potentially majoring in Computer Science, he is always willing to learn more about math and computer science and then seeing how these subjects may be applied in the real world.  He wishes to help make the HOPES webpage as accessible and user-friendly as possible so that everyone may learn more about Huntington’s disease and in general become more aware of it.  In his free time, he loves to game and to watch movies filled with action.  He also enjoys solving a good logical puzzle.  He considers himself somewhat of a tinker since when he does not understand something well, he experiments with it until he does.

Ian Macato is a member of the Class of 2019, and majoring in Symbolic Systems. He is interested in the intersection of technology, design, medicine, and education, and is thrilled to be joining the HOPES team to increase outreach and education about Huntington’s Disease. He hopes to be able to showcase the power of storytelling through accessible and innovative design to ensure that the human element is not lost in providing scientific information. In his free time, he organizes with the Pilipino American Student Union and the Stanford Asian American Activist Committee, is the Community Building Coordinator at the Asian American Activities Center, and is a Bridge peer counselor. Ask him about his interests as a foodie, community organizer, and Stanford student.

Cole is a member of the Class of 2019, currently undecided, but hurtling uncontrollably towards a major in Biomedical-Computation and minor in Human Biology. Inspired to join HOPES after his own brother’s fight with osteosarcoma, his passion lies in medicine, healthcare, and disease research. After seeing firsthand the effects of disease outreach on his own family, Cole is dedicated to demystifying the details of HD treatment and research in order to bring clarity and hope to those struggling with the disease. When not studying or writing, Cole is an avid dancer, reader, and fastidious hat collector.

Kristel is a junior studying Communication with a focus on improving the way science is communicated to the public. In her human biology classes, she’d draw out her notes, so working as a graphic designer for HOPES was a perfect fit. In her free time, she’s either drawing, storyboarding with the Stanford Storyboard Club, reading comic books, or making painted props out of cardboard boxes.

Marika graduated from the Human Biology program in 2016, and is currently pursuing a co-terminal master’s degree in Earth Systems. She is thrilled to have joined the HOPES team in 2016 as a Student Researcher! She is excited to combine her love of biology with her passion for writing to make HD information more accessible and to benefit families impacted by HD. When she’s not studying environmental conservation or tutoring students in AP Biology, Marika loves painting , dancing, and spending time outdoors.

Linda is a current junior looking to major in Human Biology with a Concentration in Health and Health Policy. As a student researcher for HOPES, she is passionate about breaking down communication barriers between researchers and the public. She also makes health education videos targeted at middle- and high-school students. On campus, she works at the Stanford Prevention Research Center. In her free time, she enjoys watching horror movies, basketball games, hiking, and traveling.

Ryan is an undeclared sophomore aspiring towards a program in Biocomputation + Art Practice (Photography) from south Sacramento, CA. With a grandmother with Alzheimer’s and an uncle who had ALS, he is passionate about doing his bit in the fight against neurodegenerative disease. Ryan is particularly interested in stem cell biology/regenerative medicine, working three years in research labs at UC Davis and Stanford that produced co-authorship of two journal publications. Ryan is also an avid photographer of everything from wildlife and sports to the Milky Way. In his free time, he can be found thrillseeking via hikes, skydives, and shark cage diving with camera in hand.

Bill Durham, Bing Professor in Human Biology and Anthropology, has been the main faculty advisor to HOPES since the project began in the year 2000. 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.