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Nobel Prize 2026: Medicine Nobel Awarded to Three Scientists for Optogenetics Discovery
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News18•05-10-2026, 16:03
Nobel Prize 2026: Medicine Nobel Awarded to Three Scientists for Optogenetics Discovery
- •The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel.
- •They were honored for their groundbreaking discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.
- •The discovery allows scientists to control specific nerve cells in the brain using light, acting like a remote control.
- •The trio will share a prize amount of 12 million Swedish Krona equally.
- •This revolutionary technique has greatly enhanced brain research and holds promise for treating neurological disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Key Questions Answered
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been jointly awarded to American scientist Karl Deisseroth, Germany's Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.
The three winning scientists will receive a total prize amount of 12 million Swedish Krona, which will be divided equally among them.
Optogenetics allows scientists to insert light-sensitive proteins called channelrhodopsin into nerve cells, enabling them to switch targeted brain cells on or off using light to study behavior and neurological disorders.
