This year’s recipient of the Sobrato Prize in Neuroscience is Andrew Yang, PhD, whose research has reshaped scientific understanding of the blood-brain barrier and its role in brain health and disease. Yang is an investigator at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease and an assistant professor of neurology and anatomy at the University of California, San Francisco. Launched in 2024, the Sobrato Prize in Neuroscience seeks to bridge the gap between discovery and the clinic, accelerating life-changing brain science with high potential for patient impact. It is awarded to scientists at Gladstone Institutes whose research has a particularly high potential to lead to new therapies for major brain diseases.

How does the brain decide to approach others? Researchers found that coordinated brain activity linked to social behavior begins seconds before movement starts. Using zebrafish, they identified a key role for the pallium, a higher brain region required for normal social interaction, and showed that animals with a stronger brain-wide neural signature were more socially engaged overall. The findings suggest that the brain prepares for social interaction before the movement even begins, and that the strength of this preparation reflects an individual’s social drive.

A new study from Northwestern University sought to answer whether Americans have moved past prejudices against gay people, and what kind of gay candidates face little to no electoral penalty. The research reveals American voters are more accepting of gay candidates than at any point in our history, but acceptance is conditional and varies by political party.