Three Researchers Awarded 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for Their Pioneering Contributions to Optogenetics

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Postmedia has not reviewed the content. by GlobeNewswire Three Researchers Awarded 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for Their Pioneering Contributions to OptogeneticsAuthor of the article:Optica congratulates Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel on being awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for Their Pioneering Contributions to Optogenetics GNWOptica congratulates Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg NagelTHIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountWASHINGTON, Oct. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, congratulates Karl Deisseroth (Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University, USA), Peter Hegemann (Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany), and Georg Nagel (University of Würzburg, Germany), who were today awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. They share the prize equally “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.”This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.The prize recognizes one of the most impactful applications of light in the life sciences. This work established and developed the use of light-sensitive proteins to control the activity of specific cells with light. Hegemann and Nagel’s foundational studies of channelrhodopsins helped establish these proteins as light-gated ion channels, while Deisseroth and collaborators subsequently developed their use for precise optical control of neurons. Researchers worldwide now use optogenetics to trace the neural circuits behind memories, emotions and behaviors. Clinical researchers are currently using the method to attempt to restore sight to those with visual impairment.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“The impact of the research of Drs. Deisseroth, Hegemann and Nagel that is recognized with today’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been absolutely transformative,” said Gisele Bennett, 2026 Optica President and founding and managing member of MEPSS LLC. “Optogenetics gives researchers the ability to control selected neural circuits with light with high spatial and temporal precision, providing a powerful way to establish links between neural activity, behavior and disease. This work has truly opened a new era in the field of neuroscience. We congratulate these researchers for their well-deserved recognition, and we celebrate what their work means for the entire optics and photonics community.”This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Karl Deisseroth received his PhD in 1998 and his MD in 2000 from Stanford University, USA. He is the D.H. Chen Professor, Professor of Bioengineering and of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University, USA. Deisseroth’s work showed that light-sensitive proteins such as channelrhodopsins could be used to control the activity of genetically defined neurons with millisecond precision.Peter Hegemann received his Ph.D in 1984 at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany. He is the Hertie Senior Professor of Neuroscience, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany. The prize-awarded discoveries were conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany. Hegemann’s studies of how microorganisms respond to light helped uncover the biological function of channelrhodopsins, the light-gated ion channels that became central to optogenetics.Georg Nagel received his Ph.D. in 1988 at the University of Frankfurt, Germany. He is Professor of Molecular Plant Physiology at the Department for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics – Botany I, University of Würzburg, Germany. The prize-awarded discoveries were conducted at Max Planck Institute for Biophysics, Frankfurt, Germany. Nagel’s research demonstrated that channelrhodopsins function as light-gated ion channels and showed that they could make other cells responsive to light.This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Select Relevant Papers Available from Optica Publishing GroupThe Nobel Laureates have published papers with Optica. A selection of their papers related to their work recognized by the Nobel Prize is included below:Segev, Eran; Moreaux, Laurent C.; Reimer, Jacob; Fowler, Trevor M.; Chi, Derrick; Sacher, Wesley D.; Lo, Maisie; Deisseroth, Karl; Tolias, Andreas S.; Faraon, Andrei; Roukes, Michael L. Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics 2016, Paper# JTh4B.2 Yang, Samuel J.; Allen, William E.; Kauvar, Isaac; Andalman, Aaron S.; Young, Noah P.; Kim, Christina K.; Marshel, James H.; Wetzstein, Gordon; & Deisseroth, Karl. Optics Express, 23(25), 32573–32581 (2015).Broxton, Michael; Grosenick, Logan; Yang, Samuel; Cohen, Noy; Andalman, Aaron; Deisseroth, Karl; Levoy, Marc. Optics Express 21(21) 25418–25439 (2013).This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Cohen, Noy; Yang, Samuel; Andalman, Aaron; Broxton, Michael; Grosenick, Logan; Deisseroth, Karl; Horowitz, Mark; Levoy, Marc. Optics Express 22(20) 24817-24839 (2014).Yang, Samuel J.; Allen, William E.; Kauvar, Isaac; Andalman, Aaron S.; Young, Noah P.; Kim, Christina K.; Marshel, James H.; Wetzstein, Gordon; Deisseroth, Karl. Imaging and Applied Optics 2016, Paper CW5D.6Kauvar, Isaac V.; Machado, Timothy A.; Yuen, Elle; Kochalka, John; Allen, William E.; Raja, Cephra; Pichamoorthy, Nandini; Wetzstein, Gordon; Deisseroth, Karl. Biophotonics Congress: Optics in the Life Sciences Congress 2019 (BODA,BRAIN,NTM,OMA,OMP), Paper JW3B.2Polland, H.-J.; Franz, M. A.; Zinth, W.; Kaiser, W.; Hegemann, P.; Oesterhelt, D. International Quantum Electronics Conference, Paper# MAA4 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, is the Society dedicated to promoting the generation, application, archiving and dissemination of knowledge in the field. Founded in 1916, it is the leading organization for scientists, engineers, business professionals, students and others interested in the science of light. Optica’s renowned publications, meetings, online resources and in-person activities fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate scientific, technical and educational achievement. Discover more at: Optica.orgThis advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.