2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine for the technology that allows controlling neurons with light

BarcelonaResearchers Peter Hegemann (Humboldt University of Berlin), Karl Deisseroth (Stanford University in California), and Georg Nagel (University of Würzburg in Germany) have been distinguished with the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine, awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, for having developed optogenetics, a technology that allows for the control of nerve cells with light and shows in real time how neurons generate memories, feelings, and behaviors. According to the verdict of the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, they have been recognized "for their discoveries regarding light-gated ion channels and optogenetics."

Hegemann and Nagel discovered a protein in a unicellular alga. And later, Deisseroth transformed the protein into a kind of light-controlled switch for nerve cells. The laureates laid the foundations for a new era for neuroscience, the jury considered.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognizes discoveries that have contributed significantly to the understanding of life and the progress of medicine. In 2025, the award distinguished Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for their discoveries regarding peripheral immune tolerance, a mechanism that prevents the immune system from attacking the body's healthy tissues.

The prize is endowed with 12 million Swedish kronor, after the Nobel Foundation increased the amount in 2026. The award has been presented since 1901, when the German physician Emil von Behring was recognized for his work on serum therapy, especially in the treatment of diphtheria.

Throughout its history, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has distinguished research on diseases, biological processes, and fundamental mechanisms of how the organism functions. The 2026 announcement will open a new edition of the Nobel Prizes, which will be awarded in six categories between October 5 and October 12.