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Neuroscientist Ben Barres, who identified crucial roles of glial cells, dies at 63
Neuroscientist Ben Barres, who identified crucial roles of glial cells, dies at 63
The Stanford neuroscientist’s research focused on the cells in the brain that aren’t nerve cells. Collectively called glia, these “other” cells play a central role in sculpting and maintaining the brain’s wiring diagram.
DEC 27 2017
Acclaimed Stanford neuroscientist Ben Barres, MD, PhD, died on Dec. 27, 20 months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was 63.
Barres’ path-breaking discoveries of the crucial roles played by glial cells — the unsung majority of brain cells, which aren’t nerve cells — revolutionized the field of neuroscience.
Barres was incontestably visionary yet, ironically, face-blind — he suffered from prosopagnosia, an inability to distinguish faces, and relied on voices or visual cues such as hats and hairstyles to identify even people he knew well. And there were many of them.
The Stanford neuroscientist’s research focused on the cells in the brain that aren’t nerve cells. Collectively called glia, these “other” cells play a central role in sculpting and maintaining the brain’s wiring diagram.
DEC 27 2017
Acclaimed Stanford neuroscientist Ben Barres, MD, PhD, died on Dec. 27, 20 months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was 63.
Barres’ path-breaking discoveries of the crucial roles played by glial cells — the unsung majority of brain cells, which aren’t nerve cells — revolutionized the field of neuroscience.
Barres was incontestably visionary yet, ironically, face-blind — he suffered from prosopagnosia, an inability to distinguish faces, and relied on voices or visual cues such as hats and hairstyles to identify even people he knew well. And there were many of them.
Interesting factoid:
Ben Barres, Leading Neuroscientist and Trans Advocate, Dead at 63
Barres, a transgender man, did pioneering work on the role of certain brain cells and was an advocate for trans people, women, and more.
BY TRUDY RING
DECEMBER 28 2017 4:38 PM EST
Ben Barres, a prominent neuroscientist who was transgender, has died at age 63 of pancreatic cancer. ... Barres died Wednesday, 20 months after his cancer diagnosis, according to a press release from Stanford University, where he was a professor.
....
He chaired the neurobiology department from 2008 until April 2016, the time of his cancer diagnosis. Clandinin succeeded him. Barres joined Stanford as an assistant professor of neurobiology in 1993, then became an associate professor in 1998 and a full professor in 2001. He created the master of science in medicine program and directed it from 2005 on.
He never downplayed being transgender and “was an outspoken champion of marginalized minorities in academia and society, not infrequently digressing for a few minutes during his scientific talks to point out the differences he’d personally experienced in how other scientists treated him when they perceived him as a woman versus as a man,” the news release notes. He was mentioned in a 2006 Advocate article on successful transgender academics, which applauded.his response to sexist comments made by former Harvard president Lawrence Summers.
Barres was the first trans person admitted into the National Academy of Science, reports Forbes. “He was a tireless advocate for women in academia, and for his students,” the Forbes article continues. “Professors often hold on to their students’ projects; Barre insisted they take those projects with them. He was a figure toward whom a great many other scientists felt a strong emotional bond.”
Barres, a transgender man, did pioneering work on the role of certain brain cells and was an advocate for trans people, women, and more.
BY TRUDY RING
DECEMBER 28 2017 4:38 PM EST
Ben Barres, a prominent neuroscientist who was transgender, has died at age 63 of pancreatic cancer. ... Barres died Wednesday, 20 months after his cancer diagnosis, according to a press release from Stanford University, where he was a professor.
....
He chaired the neurobiology department from 2008 until April 2016, the time of his cancer diagnosis. Clandinin succeeded him. Barres joined Stanford as an assistant professor of neurobiology in 1993, then became an associate professor in 1998 and a full professor in 2001. He created the master of science in medicine program and directed it from 2005 on.
He never downplayed being transgender and “was an outspoken champion of marginalized minorities in academia and society, not infrequently digressing for a few minutes during his scientific talks to point out the differences he’d personally experienced in how other scientists treated him when they perceived him as a woman versus as a man,” the news release notes. He was mentioned in a 2006 Advocate article on successful transgender academics, which applauded.his response to sexist comments made by former Harvard president Lawrence Summers.
Barres was the first trans person admitted into the National Academy of Science, reports Forbes. “He was a tireless advocate for women in academia, and for his students,” the Forbes article continues. “Professors often hold on to their students’ projects; Barre insisted they take those projects with them. He was a figure toward whom a great many other scientists felt a strong emotional bond.”
