Three scientists win 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been jointly awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for their groundbreaking discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics, a technique that has revolutionised the study of the brain.

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet announced the laureates on Monday. The three scientists were honoured for pioneering work that enabled researchers to control nerve-cell activity using light, thereby opening new avenues for investigating how the brain and nervous system function. In particular, their identification and application of light-sensitive proteins such as channelrhodopsins laid the foundation for optogenetics, a method that has transformed neuroscience research.

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Furthermore, their work has furnished scientists with a powerful means of studying neural circuits with unprecedented precision, potentially advancing understanding of processes linked to memory, emotions and behaviour. Moreover, the breakthrough has established a robust foundation for further research into the intricate mechanisms underlying the brain and nervous system.