Deisseroth, Hegemann and Nagel Win 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine for Optogenetics
Version 2: New reports add the laureates’ ages, Deisseroth’s and the German researchers’ institutional affiliations, a video of Deisseroth telling his children about the prize, and broadcast coverage describing him as a neuroscientist and psychiatrist.
In short
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for work on optogenetics, a technique that uses light and genetics to control nerve cells. UPI reported the three will share $1.19 million, and that Hegemann and Nagel discovered the protein channelrhodopsin while Deisseroth introduced the gene into rat nerve cells. The Nobel Committee said optogenetics has helped reveal neural circuits behind memories, feelings and behaviors and is being used in attempts to restore sight.
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The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded Monday to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for research into optogenetics and light-gated ion channels, according to The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and UPI. The Associated Press reported the prize was announced at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. The New York Times reported that Thomas Perlmann, secretary general of the Nobel Committee, spoke at the Karolinska Institute on Monday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
UPI reported the three scientists will share $1.19 million. It described optogenetics as a technique that uses light and genetics to control nerve cells in the living brain, making it possible to show how neurons affect memories, feelings and behaviors. Hegemann, of Humboldt University of Berlin, and Nagel, of the University of Würzburg, were awarded for discovering a protein called channelrhodopsin in a single-celled alga, UPI said. They found that channelrhodopsin opens a channel when illuminated by blue light, allowing ions to flow into the cell and create an electrical impulse. [ 4 ]
Deisseroth, of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University, introduced a gene for channelrhodopsin into nerve cells of rats, making it possible to trigger a nerve signal by illuminating the cells with blue light, UPI reported. A Nobel Committee release said optogenetics has allowed researchers to reveal neural circuits governing specific memories, feelings and behaviors relevant for neurological and psychiatric disorders, and that in clinical medicine researchers are using the method in attempts to restore sight in people with visual impairment, according to UPI. [ 4 ]
Per Svenningsson, chairman of the Nobel Committee for Physiology and Medicine, said, “Optogenetics provides opportunities for mapping the brain in a way that we could once only dream of,” according to UPI. The Associated Press reported that the Nobel Assembly lauded their work and said their tool is now being used in laboratories around the world to reveal the brain’s mysteries. [ 1 , 4 ]
The Associated Press reported Deisseroth is 54, Hegemann 71 and Nagel 73. It identified Hegemann as a professor of biophysics at Humboldt University in Berlin and said Deisseroth was at home in Stanford, California, on Monday. UPI reported Deisseroth is affiliated with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University. CBS News described him as a neuroscientist and psychiatrist and reported the winners were U.S. and German scientists. [ 1 , 4 , 6 ]
CBS News reported that the discoveries in optogenetics could reshape how the brain is studied and how it processes information, and it aired a discussion with Dr. Heather Berlin, an associate professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Mount Sinai. The Guardian US reported that Stanford University shared a video of Deisseroth telling two daughters and one of his sons he had won the prize, and that he later asked for a break to make school lunches for his children at the family home in Stanford. [ 6 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The award brings international attention to a research technique that the documents say allows scientists to control neurons with light and to study brain circuits linked to memory and behavior. The Nobel Committee said clinical researchers are testing the method in attempts to restore sight, indicating potential medical applications. Because the Nobel is a widely recognized prize, the recognition may draw further interest to optogenetics and neuroscience.
Key facts
- The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- The prize recognizes work on optogenetics and light-gated ion channels. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- The award was announced Monday at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. [ 1 , 3 ]
- UPI reported the three scientists will share $1.19 million. [ 4 ]
- Hegemann and Nagel were awarded for discovering the protein channelrhodopsin in a single-celled alga, according to UPI. [ 4 ]
- Deisseroth introduced a gene for channelrhodopsin into nerve cells of rats, making it possible to trigger nerve signals with blue light, UPI reported. [ 4 ]
- Deisseroth is a neuroscientist and psychiatrist at Stanford University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, according to UPI and CBS News. [ 4 , 6 ]
- The Nobel Committee said optogenetics has let researchers reveal neural circuits governing memories, feelings and behaviors and is being used in attempts to restore sight, according to UPI. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- The prize recognizes work on optogenetics and light-gated ion channels. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- The award was announced on Monday. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- The announcement was made at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Deisseroth is American and Hegemann and Nagel are German. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Deisseroth is affiliated with Stanford University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. [ 1 , 4 , 7 ]
- Hegemann is at Humboldt University of Berlin and Nagel is at the University of Würzburg. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Exact official citation wording for the prize. The documents describe the award in general terms and do not provide a single official citation text.
- The prize amount of $1.19 million. Only UPI reports the amount; the other documents do not mention it.
- The ages of the laureates. Only The Associated Press reports their ages: Deisseroth 54, Hegemann 71 and Nagel 73.
- The video of Deisseroth telling his children about the prize. Only The Guardian US reports the video and the family scene.
- The local time of the Nobel announcement. The documents say the announcement was made Monday but do not give a clock time; timeline entries are outlets’ publication times.
- The Nobel Committee said optogenetics has allowed researchers to reveal neural circuits governing memories, feelings and behaviors and is being used in attempts to restore sight. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The Associated Press reports the Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel and says the prize was announced at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. [ 1 ]
- The Wall Street Journal reports the trio share the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for work on optogenetics. [ 2 ]
- The New York Times reports the award and mentions Thomas Perlmann, secretary general of the Nobel Committee, speaking at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm on Monday. [ 3 ]
- UPI reports the three scientists will share $1.19 million and details the optogenetics research by Hegemann, Nagel and Deisseroth. [ 4 ]
- The Associated Press reports that a California scientist shares in the Nobel Prize for medicine. [ 5 ]
- CBS News reports that U.S. and German scientists won the Nobel Prize in medicine for optogenetics discoveries and discusses the work with Dr. Heather Berlin. [ 6 ]
- The Guardian US publishes a report that Stanford University shared a video of Karl Deisseroth telling his children he won the Nobel Prize in medicine. [ 7 ]