Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel Win 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been jointly awarded to American researcher Karl Deisseroth and German researchers Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for their pioneering work on light-activated ion channels and optogenetics.

Key points

• Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel discovered channelrhodopsin, a light-sensitive protein found in single-celled algae.
• Karl Deisseroth developed a technique using this protein to control neural activity with light pulses in living brains.
• The award was announced by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.
• The methodology helps map neural circuits and may lead to new treatments for neurological and sensory disorders such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.

Why it matters

The awarded breakthroughs in optogenetics have revolutionized neuroscience by enabling precise control of neural circuits, offering new pathways to understand brain function and treat neurological disorders.