German, US scientists win Nobel medicine prize for work on optogenetics
STOCKHOLM — American Karl Deisseroth and Germans Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday for their discoveries on light and optogenetics that have helped understand how the brain works. The Nobel Assembly of Sweden's Karolinska Institute medical university said Deisseroth, 54, Hegemann, 71, and Nagel, 73, were selected for their "discoveries…
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to American scientist Karl Deisseroth, 54, and Germans Peter Hegemann, 71, and Georg Nagel, 73. The Nobel Assembly of Sweden's Karolinska Institute bestowed the honor upon them for their groundbreaking discoveries regarding light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.
These findings enable the control of individual nerve cells in a living brain using light, as explained by Thomas Perlmann, Secretary-General of the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet. Optogenetics has since become a widely-used tool in laboratories globally, unlocking the brain's secrets. Moreover, researchers are currently testing its potential in clinical trials to restore sight in individuals suffering from retinitis pigmentosa by introducing light-sensitive proteins into the retina.
Scientists also envision optogenetics improving cochlear implants, offering more precise stimulation of the auditory nerve compared to existing electrical devices.
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