The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics, which allow scientists to switch individual nerve cells on and off.
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Key facts
- The prize was awarded on Monday, 5 October 2026.
- Winners are Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel.
- They share 12 million Swedish kronor for work on light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.
- The research explores how the brain switches the activity of individual nerve cells on or off.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2026 has been awarded to three scientists for their work investigating the mysteries of the brain, according to the Guardian. The recipients are Karl Deisseroth of both the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University, Peter Hegemann of the Humboldt University of Berlin, and Georg Nagel of the University of Würzburg.
The three researchers were recognised “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics,” the Guardian reported. They will share a prize of 12 million Swedish kronor.
NPR reported that the award, announced Monday, honours three scientists working on the mechanisms the brain uses to switch on, or off, the activity of individual nerve cells. This focus on controlling nerve cell activity lies at the heart of the field of optogenetics.
The BBC described Karl Deisseroth as a US psychiatrist and neurologist, and noted that his German colleagues Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel were honoured alongside him for their work. The award, as the BBC framed it, recognises research that reveals the inner workings of the brain.
The announcement places the spotlight on optogenetics, a research area concerned with light-gated ion channels that enable scientists to influence the activity of nerve cells. The combined contributions of the three laureates underpin the field recognised by this year’s prize.
The 2026 award spans institutions in the United States and Germany, reflecting the international collaboration behind the discoveries, as reported across the Guardian, NPR and the BBC.
Why it matters
The ability to switch individual nerve cells on and off has given researchers powerful new tools to study how the brain works. Recognising this work with the Nobel Prize highlights its significance for neuroscience and future understanding of the brain.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine?
Karl Deisseroth of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University, Peter Hegemann of the Humboldt University of Berlin, and Georg Nagel of the University of Würzburg, according to the Guardian and BBC.
What was the prize awarded for?
The three scientists were awarded for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics, which relate to how the brain switches the activity of individual nerve cells on or off, according to the Guardian and NPR.
How much is the prize worth?
The three scientists will share 12 million Swedish kronor, according to the Guardian.
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The Guardian World: Three scientists to share 12m Swedish kronor prize for their work on ‘light-gated ion channels and optogenetics’ The Nobel prize in physiology or medicine 2026 has been awarded to three scientists for their work on investigating the mysteries of the brain. Karl Deisseroth of both
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The Guardian World: Three scientists to share 12m Swedish kronor prize for their work on ‘light-gated ion channels and optogenetics’ The Nobel prize in physiology or medicine 2026 has been awarded to three scientists for their work on investigating the mysteries of the brain. Karl Deisseroth of both