2026 Nobel medicine prize: Trio wins for optogenetics work

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology was awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their groundbreaking work on light-gated ion channels and optogenetics, according to the Nobel Assembly at Sweden's Karolinska Institute. The trio, representing the United States, Germany, and Germany respectively, shared the prize amount of 12 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million).

Optogenetics allows researchers to control individual nerve cells in a living brain by turning them on or off. This technique has become a powerful tool for scientists worldwide, unveiling the complexities of the brain. Last year, US scientists Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, as well as Japanese scientist Shimon Sakaguchi, were honored for their discovery of regulatory T cells, which has paved the way for advancements in cancer and autoimmune disease treatments.

The Nobel Prize announcement began on October 6 with the Physics award, followed by Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and the Economic Sciences Nobel on October 12. The recipients will receive a cash prize of 10 million Swedish kronor (approximately $900,000) and will be honored on December 10, Nobel's birthday. This prestigious recognition was established by Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, who directed his wealth towards funding "prizes for those who have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind" in his will, with the ceremony taking place on the anniversary of his death.