STOCKHOLM, Sweden — American psychiatrist and neuroscientist Karl Deisseroth and his German colleagues Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking research in optogenetics.
The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, announced the award on Monday, October 5, 2026, recognising the scientists’ discoveries of light-controlled ion channels and their pioneering work in optogenetics.
Revolutionising neuroscience
Optogenetics is a revolutionary technique that enables scientists to control and study the electrical activity of nerve cells and neural pathways in the brain using light. This technology has fundamentally transformed the understanding of how the brain works, providing new insights into complex processes like memory, emotion, and behavior.
The Nobel Assembly praised the three scientists for laying the foundation for a new era in neuroscience. Their research has helped elucidate neural circuits associated with specific memories, emotions, and behaviors, which are often linked to various neurological and mental disorders.
Per Svenningsson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, stated that optogenetics offers scientists an unprecedented opportunity to map the brain in ways previously unimaginable, noting that before this breakthrough, the intricate workings of the nervous system behind human emotions, behaviors, and bodily movements largely remained a mystery to scientists.
The Nobel Assembly highlighted that optogenetics has fundamentally changed the overall understanding of the brain. “New discoveries are being made every day, helping to solve the great mystery of how our amazing brain works,” the Nobel Assembly stated.
The discovery of optogenetics
The journey to optogenetics began with Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel’s discovery of channelrhodopsin, a special protein derived from algae. When introduced into any cell, this protein makes the cells sensitive to light.
Building on this, Karl Deisseroth successfully introduced the gene for channelrhodopsin into mouse nerve cells. He then used blue light to activate neural signals in these cells. Crucially, Deisseroth was also able to successfully apply this light-controlled system in the brains of living mice, paving the way for the development of optogenetics as a practical technology to control neural signals through light.
This technology allows researchers to activate or deactivate individual neural circuits within the brain using light. Through this method, they have been able to activate specific memories, induce certain emotions, alter behavior, and identify nerve cells involved in various mental and neurological diseases.
Future implications and award details
In the medical field, researchers are already making significant early strides towards using optogenetics as a therapeutic treatment. Ongoing clinical trials are exploring the use of these techniques to restore sight in people who have lost it, according to the Nobel Committee.
The Nobel Assembly noted that the optogenetics method is now being used in laboratories worldwide to unravel the mysteries of the brain.
The three scientists will share the prize money of 12 million Swedish Kronor. The research brief indicates this is approximately $1.2 million, while the source article mentions £900,000. This slight variation in estimated value across different currencies is noted.
The Nobel Prize announcements for 2026 will continue from October 5 to 12, with awards for Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences yet to be declared.
