What do we know about glial cells thanks to Ben Barres?

Ben Barres was a neurobiologist who made groundbreaking discoveries regarding the structure and function of the brain that may have implications for understanding Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative disorders.

As a transgender man he became an outspoken opponent of gender bias in science.

The 63-year-old, a professor of neurobiology at Stanford University, was one of the world’s leading researchers on glial cells; the most numerous structures in the brain, whose purpose was long a complete mystery.