Three scientists from the United States and Germany have won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine for the technology of optogenetics, which makes it possible to control brain cells through light.
The Nobel Assembly at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute has jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine to American scientist Karl Deisseroth and German scientists Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel.
The three scientists received the honour for their important discoveries in the field of light-activated ion channels and optogenetics.
According to the Nobel Assembly, the scientists’ research made it possible for the first time to directly control the activity of specific nerve cells in a living brain through light.
In simple words, optogenetics is a technique through which scientists can activate or deactivate specific brain cells with the help of light.
This helps researchers understand what role different brain cells play in the body’s behaviour and in various diseases.
According to Nobel Assembly Secretary-General Thomas Perlmann, this technique has opened a new path for research into the brain and nervous system.
Nobel Committee member and Professor of Genetics Anna Wedell also described it as the beginning of a new era in neuroscience, although she said there is still much more to be discovered in this field.
Major breakthrough in research on brain diseases
The research of the three scientists is now being used to understand various brain diseases. Researchers are using experiments on animals to examine the role of specific nerve cells in various diseases, including schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy and addiction.
Karl Deisseroth used optogenetics to activate specific nerve cells in the motor cortex of mice, as a result of which it became possible to control specific movements of their bodies.
According to experts, if it becomes known when and where specific brain cells become active during a disease, it could greatly help in understanding the basic mechanisms of the disease.
In the future, this research is also expected to help find new methods of treatment.
How much is the Nobel Prize money?
The three scientists will collectively receive prize money of 12 million Swedish kronor, which is approximately 1.2 million US dollars. The announcements of the other 2026 Nobel Prizes will also continue throughout this week.
The Physics Prize will be announced on October 6, the Chemistry Prize on October 7, and the Literature Prize on October 8. The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on October 9, while the Economics Prize will be announced on October 12.