Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2026: Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel and the Discovery of Optogenetics
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2026: Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel and the Discovery of Optogenetics The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2026 to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their groundbreaking contributions to optogenetics and the development of a powerful method for studying and controlling nerve-cell activity using light. The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognizes discoveries that have transformed modern neuroscience. The work of Peter Hegemann, Georg Nagel and Karl Deisseroth helped scientists develop the ability to use light-sensitive proteins to control specific cells, particularly nerve cells. This technique, known as optogenetics , has provided researchers with an unprecedented way to investigate how the brain works. Their discoveries have helped scientists move from simply observing neural activity towards experimentally controlling specific ne...
