Three Scientists Win Nobel Prize in Medicine for Optogenetics Research

American scientist Karl Deisseroth and German researchers Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their work in optogenetics, according to the announcement described in the supplied summary.

The Nobel Committee in Stockholm announced the award on Monday, marking the opening of the 2026 Nobel prize season.

Optogenetics combines genetic techniques with light to control the activity of selected cells. In neuroscience, it allows researchers to activate or silence particular nerve cells and observe how those changes affect brain function.

The approach has given scientists a powerful way to investigate neural circuits. By targeting specific cells, researchers can move beyond observing brain activity to testing how those cells influence behaviour and other functions.