Nobel Prize awarded for optogenetics and light-gated ion channels
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine honored Deisseroth, Hegemann and Nagel for discoveries involving light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.
OriginalSourceNew ScientistUnited KingdomLeanCenterCredibilityPublished09:37 UTCRatings: AllSides, MBFCSourceNew ScientistUnited KingdomLeanCenterCredibilityPublished09:37 UTCRatings: AllSides, MBFC
“Nobel prize for medicine goes to trio who developed optogenetics”
Nobel prize in physiology or medicine awarded for optogenetics
Key points
- The 2026 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine goes to Deisseroth, Hegemann and Nagel.
- The award recognizes development of techniques to control genes with light.
- Hegemann and Nagel identified the light-sensitive channel-rhodopsin protein.
- Deisseroth engineered rats to express channel-rhodopsin, enabling neuron activation by light.
- Optogenetics enables precise control of neurons and potential therapies, including sight restoration.
Other reports
- SourceThe Times of IndiaIndiaLeanCenterCredibilityRatings: AllSides, MBFCRead at The Times of IndiaSourceThe Times of IndiaIndiaLeanCenterCredibilityRatings: AllSides, MBFCRead at The Times of India
“Trio win Nobel prize for leap in optogenetics; how it unlocks brain's mysteries”
How it got here
New Scientist publishes the article.
concise reads it.
Grouped with The Times of India’s report as story 10.
The Brief ranks it 10th.
10 10 Nobel Prize awarded for optogenetics and light-gated ion channels
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine honored Deisseroth, Hegemann and Nagel for discoveries involving light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.