Nobel prize in medicine 2026 awarded for research into mysteries of brain
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their pioneering work in optogenetics. Their research involves using light to control ion channels in the brain.
Why it matters
Optogenetics is a transformative technology in neuroscience that allows researchers to map and understand brain function with unprecedented precision.
Illustration of human brain projected on screen during the announcement of the winners of the Nobel prize in medicine in Stockholm./Getty Images Illustration of human brain projected on screen during the announcement of the winners of the Nobel prize in medicine in Stockholm./Getty Images Nobel prizes Nobel prize in medicine 2026 awarded for research into mysteries of brain Three scientists to share 12m Swedish kronor prize for their work on ‘light-gated ion channels and optogenetics’
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