5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) is a potential neuroprotective drug in cortical neurons. Paclitaxel has a potent toxicity on neuron viability, neurite morphology, and synaptic formation. 5-HD, screened from compound libraries, exhibited the most significant neuroprotective effects against paclitaxel-induced neurotoxicity. Using an image-based high-content platform, 5-HD decreased paclitaxel-induced damage to viability, neurite outgrowth, and synaptogenesis in cortical neurons. For details, see the article by Chen and colleagues on page 2206.