German and US scientists win Nobel medicine prize for work that has helped understand how the brain works

American Karl Deisseroth, German scientists Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking discoveries in light-gated ion channels and optogenetics, which have greatly enhanced our understanding of brain function. The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute, Sweden's prestigious medical university, announced that the trio was selected for their work on "discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics."

Optogenetics enables researchers to precisely control the activity of individual nerve cells in a living brain by turning them on or off using light. This innovative technique has already been successfully applied in clinical trials to restore vision to individuals with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that causes blindness. Researchers are also exploring the potential of optogenetics to improve cochlear implants and enhance the stimulation of the auditory nerve.

The medicine prize, one of six Nobel Prizes established by Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel in 1901, has recognized numerous influential scientific breakthroughs, including penicillin's discovery by Alexander Fleming in 1945 and the identification of human blood groups by Karl Landsteiner in 1930. The Nobel laureates were surprised and delighted to receive the award together, expressing their gratitude and excitement about the honor.