A Bay Area researcher has received the science equivalent of an Oscar, winning a $3 million Breakthrough Prize for his groundbreaking discovery about multiple sclerosis (MS). Dr. Stephen Hauser, a UC San Francisco neurology professor, overturned the scientific consensus on the mechanism of MS and revolutionized doctors’ approach to the disease.
Hauser’s discovery, made possible by decades of research, offers hope that people with MS can live a life free from debilitating effects. The treatment, which uses a drug to kill B cells, blocks nearly all inflammation-causing attacks, allowing patients to experience fewer than one attack per lifetime.
While researchers acknowledge that slow neurological degeneration occurs in the disease, Hauser’s work suggests that treating it early may stop it entirely. This breakthrough comes as the US National Institutes of Health faces significant funding cuts and research project cancellations.
Dr. Hauser is also a strong advocate for the importance of continued medical research, warning that reduced funding could have generational consequences for healthcare progress. He hopes that young scientists will continue to pursue careers in medical science despite current challenges.
Source: https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/05/bay-area-scientist-wins-award-worries-trump-cuts-health