Overview
Ben Barres (1954–2017) was an influential American neurobiologist whose laboratory work reshaped understanding of the supporting cells of the brain known as glia. Born in West Orange, New Jersey, he spent most of his career at Stanford University, where he combined careful experiments with clear writing and public engagement. From 2008 until his death in 2017 he served as Chair of the Department of Neurobiology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Research and scientific contributions
Barres helped change the long-standing view that neurons alone determine nervous system wiring. His lab produced key evidence that various types of glial cells — including astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia — actively regulate synapse formation, maturation, and elimination. These findings clarified how neural circuits develop, how they are maintained, and how dysfunction of non-neuronal cells can contribute to disease.
- Synapse formation: Barres's work showed that astrocytes release factors that promote synapse development and function.
- Pruning and remodeling: his studies contributed to the idea that glia participate in removing excess synapses during development.
- Disease relevance: by linking glial activity to neuronal health, his research opened avenues for thinking about neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
Career, leadership, and mentorship
Beyond laboratory discoveries, Barres was recognized as a leader and mentor. As department chair he emphasized rigorous science, reproducibility, and the training of young investigators. Colleagues and trainees have noted his dedication to clear experimental design and to supporting diverse career paths in neuroscience.
Advocacy, personal life, and public voice
Barres was also a prominent advocate for equity in science. After publicly transitioning to male in 1997 — a personal choice he discussed openly — he spoke and wrote about gender bias in peer review, hiring, and mentoring. He used his platform to highlight examples of bias and to encourage institutions to adopt fairer practices. In 2013 he became the first openly transgender scientist elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, an event widely reported and discussed in scientific circles.
Barres's personal story and advocacy drew attention to how assumptions about an author’s gender can affect evaluations of work. He recounted episodes in which reviewers or colleagues compared him unfavorably to someone they assumed was female, a concrete example he used to illustrate systemic bias.
Illness and legacy
Barres died of pancreatic cancer on December 27, 2017, in Stanford, California. His scientific contributions remain influential in contemporary research on how glial cells shape neuronal circuits, and his public role helped advance conversations about inclusion and fairness in academic science.
For further summaries of his career and impact see general biographies and tributes that collect his publications and reflections on mentorship, leadership, and equity in science: biography, birthplace, early life, institutional profile, research topics, personal transition, national academy notice, cause of death, place of death, local remembrances.