Ben Barres (1954–2017) Neurobiologist Who Advocated for Gender Equality in Science

COMMENT OBITUARY Ben Barres (1954–2017) Neurobiologist who advocated for gender equality in science.

en Barres (born Barbara Barres) was brain. In 2013, Barres was elected to the US a passionate researcher of the role of National Academy of Sciences — the first glia, the most numerous type of brain openly transgendered member. Bcell, in development and disease. He was Ben had an almost superhuman work also an ardent campaigner for equal oppor- ethic. Working 18–20 hours per day didn’t tunity in science. He died of cancer aged 63, feel difficult, he told me, because, “science on 27 December 2017. is fun ... almost like a playful addiction”. In

As Barbara and as Ben (he transitioned his later years, Ben started cycling in the hills SCHOOL OF MEDICINE STANFORD genders in 1997), Barres made numerous around Stanford. He also began roasting his landmark discoveries. These include the own coffee beans — giving bags to lab mem- identification of glial-derived factors that bers in exchange for constructive feedback. promote the formation and elimination of He delighted in all things Harry Potter. Trips synapses, and the characterization of signals to the latest film were among the few manda- that induce the formation of myelin, the lipid tory requirements of Barres-lab membership. sheathing on neurons. In April 2016, Ben was diagnosed with Barres devoted much of his last decade advanced pancreatic cancer. Amid repeated to publicly describing the challenges he had treatments, he continued to work every day, faced as a woman in science, and offering write grant applications and manuscripts, ways to correct a system that he viewed as and keep up his advocacy. He never stopped fundamentally biased against the advance- mentoring his students and postdocs, and ment of women and minorities. He also in Boston, Massachusetts, on the function toiled feverishly to update and archive their called for mentors to be held more account- and distribution of cation channels in glial letters of support in anticipation of their able for the training and success of their cells. During a postdoc at University College future career developments after his death. graduate students and postdocs. London, Barres discovered that developing Ben confided that he’d never had much Barres took tremendous pleasure from neurons provide signals to the myelinating interest in romantic relationships or having working on important but neglected prob- glial cells — the oligodendrocytes — to insu- children. He told me: “I’ve always considered lems. “Ninety-nine per cent of neuroscien- late neuronal axons. my colleagues as my family, and my students tists work on 1% of the interesting questions,” Barres started his own lab in 1993, in the and my postdocs as my children.” Seeing he said, “It is so much more exciting to work neurobiology department at Stanford Uni- them flourish and succeed was one of his on the untouched mysteries!” His findings versity School of Medicine in California. greatest sources of joy. and vocal presence at meetings were largely He mentored dozens of students and post- Ben’s colleagues and protégés adored responsible for the acceptance that glial cells docs. Barres’ lab meetings were legendarily him and considered the Barres lab a fam- contribute to brain development, function intense. They often lasted three hours or ily of sorts, too. As far back as I can recall, and disease. more owing to the large number of people the hallway doors of Ben’s lab were adorned Barres was raised in West Orange, New in attendance, the vast range of topics cov- with drawings and photos of the various lab Jersey and loved mathematics and science ered and the open, somewhat unstructured members — past and present, their children from an early age. He never felt comforta- discourse that Barres encouraged. and their pets and, of course, glial cells. We ble being treated as a girl. At school, Barres Barres insisted that people in his lab were and remain bonded by our affection repeatedly requested, but was denied, access tackle important scientific problems, voice and appreciation for Ben, his dedication to to courses in science and engineering. A their views and ask questions at conferences. mentoring us, his quirks, and his unrelent- summer science programme with no gender He allowed his trainees immense freedom ing spirit. restrictions at Columbia University in New to collaborate with others, to work whatever Barres was remarkably brave and reflec- York City finally provided access to these hours they wanted and to attend any meet- tive about his illness and the life he’d led. As subjects, and led him to pursue a bachelor of ing they cared to — as long as they asked he put it: “I lived life on my terms: I wanted science degree in biology at the Massachu- questions. Many went on to faculty posi- to switch genders, and I did. I wanted to setts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. tions in the United States, Europe or Asia. be a scientist, and I was. I wanted to study In 1979, Barres completed a medical The Barres lab made many discoveries glia, and I did that too. I stood up for what degree at Dartmouth College in Hanover, about how synapses form in the developing I believed in and I like to think I made an New Hampshire, and then a neurology brain. It probed the roles of different types impact, or at least opened the door for the residency at Weill Cornell Medicine in New of glial cell — astrocytes and microglia — impact to occur. I have zero regrets and I’m York City. He was intrigued that so many in synapse elimination, for example. Barres ready to die. I’ve truly had a great life.” ■ of the diseases that impair brain and nerv- also made significant contributions to the ous-system function involve glial cells, yet study of signals that influence the survival of Andrew D. Huberman is a professor of so little was known at the time about their damaged neurons, optic-nerve and spinal- neurobiology at Stanford University School of biology. cord regeneration, and the assembly and Medicine, California, and a former postdoc in Barres left medicine to do a doctorate in maintenance of the barrier that prevents the Barres lab. He was a close friend of Ben’s. neurobiology at Harvard Medical School specific molecules in the blood entering the e-mail: [email protected]