Neuroscientist Ben Barres has died (opens in new tab)

(med.stanford.edu)

95 pointsalexholehouse8y ago12 comments

12 comments

> “If you took the Barres lab out of the field of glial studies, there would be no field,” Raff said.

The highest of compliments. RIP

Prior to his insights, glia were just thought to be little more than structural support and insulation for neurons. The truth of course is so much more interesting.

Baruch dayan emet.

jdpigeon8y ago

In addition to being an incredibly productive, paradigm-shifting scientist, Dr. Barres was also honest and down to earth about the realities of the field. I'd recommend anyone going in to any type of graduate study to read his essay on how to choose na graduate advisor: http://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273(13)00907-0

GuiA8y ago

I quit academia, frustrated at how bureaucratic it was and how impossible it seemed to become a Great Scientist. Very inspiring to read about the lives of those who make it against all odds.

May the work and memory of Ben Barres carry the next generations of scientists.

melling8y ago

“died on Dec. 27, 20 months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was 63.”

A form of cancer where we have made almost zero progress. What’s it going to take to get more research?

It has already been 10 years: https://www.cmu.edu/randyslecture/

ekianjo8y ago

Problem is also that it is not easy to diagnose in early stages, so you end up with most patients diagnosed in stage 4.

Gatsky8y ago

It's a difficult problem etc etc

The real answer is that the life sciences are currently in a medieval phase. It's like doing physics without algebra or calculus. We should certainly not expect any regular progress. It is extraordinarily inefficient.

pvaldes8y ago

I understand what you are trying to say. Yes. This is a sort of a dark age for all science related. A few well supported islands in an ocean of hostile politics

hprotagonist8y ago

it’s not like people aren’t trying. it’s just a real bastard of a disease.

melling8y ago

I didn’t say people weren’t trying. I was asking for more research. Pancreatic cancer is not generously funded. Most would argue that it’s underfunded.

https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/cancer-funding-doe...

https://www.cancer.org/research/currently-funded-cancer-rese...

1 more reply

leemailll8y ago

The best know transgender scientist

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12 comments

davidkuhta8y ago

> “If you took the Barres lab out of the field of glial studies, there would be no field,” Raff said.

The highest of compliments. RIP

QAPereo8y ago

Prior to his insights, glia were just thought to be little more than structural support and insulation for neurons. The truth of course is so much more interesting.

Baruch dayan emet.

jdpigeon8y ago

GuiA8y ago

I quit academia, frustrated at how bureaucratic it was and how impossible it seemed to become a Great Scientist. Very inspiring to read about the lives of those who make it against all odds.

May the work and memory of Ben Barres carry the next generations of scientists.

melling8y ago

“died on Dec. 27, 20 months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was 63.”

A form of cancer where we have made almost zero progress. What’s it going to take to get more research?

It has already been 10 years: https://www.cmu.edu/randyslecture/

ekianjo8y ago

Problem is also that it is not easy to diagnose in early stages, so you end up with most patients diagnosed in stage 4.

Gatsky8y ago

It's a difficult problem etc etc

pvaldes8y ago

I understand what you are trying to say. Yes. This is a sort of a dark age for all science related. A few well supported islands in an ocean of hostile politics

hprotagonist8y ago

it’s not like people aren’t trying. it’s just a real bastard of a disease.

melling8y ago

I didn’t say people weren’t trying. I was asking for more research. Pancreatic cancer is not generously funded. Most would argue that it’s underfunded.

https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/cancer-funding-doe...

https://www.cancer.org/research/currently-funded-cancer-rese...

1 more reply

leemailll8y ago

The best know transgender scientist

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse