Karl Deisseroth, Georg Nagel, and Peter Hegemann have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on optogenetics.
Key facts
- •Karl Deisseroth, Georg Nagel, and Peter Hegemann are the 2026 Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine.
- •The award recognizes the discovery of rhodopsin and the development of optogenetics.
- •Optogenetics enables the control of cellular activity through the application of light and genetics.
- •The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded 116 times since 1901.
- •There have been 232 total winners of the prize in this category throughout its history.
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Georg Nagel, and Peter Hegemann. The trio received the honor for their discovery of rhodopsin and the development of optogenetics, a technique that allows for the control of cells using light and genetics.
By the numbers
Historical Context of the Award
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was first established in 1901. Since its inception, the prize has been awarded 116 times to 232 individual laureates for various innovations in biological sciences and medicine, including the discovery of penicillin, insulin, and the molecular structure of DNA.
Recent Nobel Laureates
The 2026 award follows several years of recognition for significant medical and biological breakthroughs. Recent recipients include researchers recognized for their work on peripheral immune tolerance in 2025, the discovery of microRNA in 2024, and the development of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 in 2023.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Scientific American.
