Hannah’s Hope Fund set to recieve funding from Pepsi

The votes are in for August’s Pepsi Refresh Project.

This morning, Pepsi announced that Hannah’s Hope Fund, along with CureJM, are the top two finalists to receive $250,000 from the Pepsi Refresh Everything Project. Hannah’s Hope Fund was established to further research into Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN), a disease in which the ability to speak or swallow is decimated. Most afflicted with the disease end up in a paraplegic state and die in their 20s.

The University at Albany’s Student Association took the initiative last week to help the fund. Research into GAN is being supplemented by the University’s RNA institute on its East Campus, where scientists have applied for federal grant funding for GAN. Hannah’s Hope Fund aims on funding a clinical trial as well as toxicology tests in preparation for a human trial. Regulations and guidelines for a human trial are considered extensive due to FDA compliance.

UAlbany students propped up Hannah’s Hope Fund from sixth place to third, and for a short time – first. Last night, Hannah fell to third, but a last minute push edged the fund into second.

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