Trio win Nobel prize for leap in optogenetics; how it unlocks brain’s mysteries

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been conferred upon Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their pioneering work on light-gated ion channels and the innovative optogenetics technique. This advancement permits researchers to manipulate the activity of nerve cells in living brains, which holds promise for neuroscience and future medical treatments targeting visual impairments and various neural disorders. The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been conferred upon Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their pioneering work on light-gated ion channels and the innovative optogenetics technique. This advancement permits researchers to manipulate the activity of nerve cells in living brains, which holds promise for neuroscience and future medical treatments targeting visual impairments and various neural disorders.