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The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded jointly to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for discoveries that establish optogenetics, a technique using light to control specific nerve cells. Hegemann and Nagel identify channelrhodopsins, light-sensitive ion channels from green algae, while Deisseroth develops their use for rapidly activating or suppressing selected neurons in living brains. The technology transforms neuroscience by allowing precise mapping of circuits controlling memory, emotion and behaviour. It also supports research into potential treatments for disorders including epilepsy, depression, addiction, dementia and certain forms of blindness.
Monday, 5 October, 2026