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Scientists Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel were awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. Their work has enabled scientists to control selected nerve cells using light, providing new ways to study the functioning of the brain and nervous system.
About Optogenetics
Optogenetics is a technique that enables scientists to switch the activity of individual nerve cells on or off using light. It combines genetic techniques with optical stimulation to control specific neurons in a living brain with high precision.
The technique is widely used in laboratories to investigate how neural circuits function and how different nerve cells contribute to behaviour and neurological processes. It has also been adapted experimentally to help some people with blindness regain limited sensitivity to light and is being investigated for potential applications in treating conditions such as epilepsy and chronic pain.
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The 2026 prize was awarded jointly to Karl Deisseroth, an American scientist, and German scientists Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel. The prize carries a monetary award of 12 million Swedish kronor, which is shared among multiple laureates.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine traditionally opens the annual Nobel Prize announcements, followed by the prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace and Economic Sciences. The original five Nobel Prizes were established through the will of Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel and were first awarded in 1901. The Prize in Economic Sciences was established in 1968 by Sweden’s central bank, the Riksbank.
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