Dear UCSF Community,
 
I am delighted to share the news that UCSF’s Stephen Hauser, MD, professor of neurology and director of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, has received the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his transformational work in multiple sclerosis. He shares the prize with Alberto Ascherio, MD, DrPH, of Harvard University. 
 
Steve was honored today for his role in overturning the scientific consensus on what causes the immune system to attack nerve cells, causing the symptoms of MS. His vision that the immune system’s B cells were the primary drivers of that damage – and his work that proved it – was revolutionary. The impact of that research has been tremendous, leading to a new class of therapies that have significantly slowed the progression of MS for hundreds of thousands of patients. 
 
Steve’s work underscores the value of fundamental discovery science, as well as the importance of supporting the range of research needed to translate a hypothesis into immense benefits for patients. More details on these discoveries can be found in the story about the prize on UCSF.edu. 
 
We are extremely proud of Steve and his pioneering work. He exemplifies UCSF’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and our goal of advancing health worldwide. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Sam Hawgood, MBBS

Chancellor

Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Distinguished Professor