Three Scientists Win Nobel Prize in Medicine for Discoveries in Optogenetics

The Nobel Assembly announced on Monday, October 5, 2026, that scientists Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for their discoveries concerning light-controlled ion channels and optogenetics.”

The Nobel Committee said the three researchers were honored for their discoveries related to light-activated ion channels and optogenetics, a technique that makes it possible to study how nerve cells contribute to the formation of memories, emotions and behaviors in the brain.

The laureates of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine are selected by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. The prize carries an award of 12 million Swedish kronor, approximately $1.2 million, which is shared when there is more than one laureate.