The Nobel Committee made the announcement at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden. (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)
At a Glance: Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel have won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for pioneering optogenetics—a revolutionary technique utilizing light and algal proteins to control brain cells and map neural circuits.
🧬 Breakthrough in Neuroscience and Medicine
US psychiatrist and neurologist Karl Deisseroth along with his German colleagues Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel have been awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their exceptional work in optogenetics.
Their groundbreaking research has allowed scientists to peer deeper into the inner workings of the brain, providing critical insights into how the human mind functions and how neural circuits operate.
"Optogenetics has fundamentally altered our understanding of the brain, helping to solve one of humanity's great mysteries."
⚡ What is Optogenetics?
Per Svenningsson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, explained that optogenetics provides unprecedented opportunities for mapping the brain. The technique uses a special protein borrowed from algae, discovered by Hegemann and Nagel in the early 2000s, which Deisseroth later adapted to switch nerve cells on and off using light.
Using light, researchers can now bring memories to life, trigger specific feelings, drive behaviors, and study neuron types involved in various psychiatric and neurological disorders.
💰 Shared Prize & Recognition
The three laureates expressed that it was "absolutely wonderful" to receive the award and an honor to share the accolade among friends and close collaborators.
Alongside the prestigious recognition, the winners will equally share the £900,000 (12 million Swedish kronor) prize money.
👁️ Restoring People's Sight
Researchers have also taken major steps toward translating optogenetics into medical treatments. In ongoing clinical trials, scientists are working to restore vision in people blinded by conditions like retinitis pigmentosa.
By inserting the light-sensitive algal protein into damaged areas of the eye, patients equipped with special light-emitting glasses have successfully regained partial vision, opening doors to advanced neural therapies.