Optogenetics Pioneers Awarded 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Stanford University Professor Karl Deisseroth, along with Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel, has received the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. They are honored for their groundbreaking discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. This revolutionary technique, which uses light to control nerve cells, has significantly advanced the understanding of brain function and opened new avenues for neurological disease research.