Foundational brain researchers win Nobel prize
Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel were recognised for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. Read more: Foundational brain researchers win Nobel prize
Three scientists, Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel, have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. The Nobel Assembly at Sweden's Karolinska Institutet recognized their work for enabling research into how the brain forms memories, feelings, and behaviors.
Optogenetics allows scientists to precisely control individual nerve cells in a living brain, potentially leading to a deeper understanding of psychiatric and neurological disorders such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. The trio's research has established a causal link between genetic circuit motifs and brain functions, paving the way for new medical treatments and a more comprehensive understanding of the brain.
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