Stanford Scientist Wins Nobel Prize for Groundbreaking Brain Research
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Dr. Karl Deisseroth, a prominent figure in brain science, received a congratulations-filled wake-up call early Monday announcing his Nobel Prize victory in medicine for pioneering the field of optogenetics.
Despite the accolades, Deisseroth quickly shifted focus to a more mundane task—preparing school lunches for his children, who were still asleep at their Stanford home. After an intense night conversing with journalists and well-wishers, the California scientist was ready to embrace the day-to-day.
Deisseroth, 54, shares this year’s medicine prize with German researchers Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for their collaborative work in optogenetics, which utilizes light to manipulate the activity of neurons in living brains.
Self-identifying as a night owl, Deisseroth often works late into the night. After a long evening filled with emails and paper reviews, he finally lay down when he received the Nobel call from Stockholm. “I almost felt as if I’d lost the power of forming words,” he later recounted to The Associated Press, although he recovered quickly.
His morning continued with remote interviews as an AP photographer captured the moment at his home. Despite Halloween decorations outside and a dimly lit interior, he was busy taking calls from the couch.
His wife, Dr. Michelle Monje-Deisseroth, who is also a distinguished scientist at Stanford, supported him through the early morning chaos, preparing coffee and celebrating the accolade. While Deisseroth was taken by surprise at the recognition, his wife was not.
Reflecting on his research and its societal impacts, he expressed his dual role as a physician-scientist. “I care about patients and the hope this brings… understanding how the brain works,” he said.
As interviews concluded, Deisseroth informed the Stanford team of his need for a brief break at 6:30 a.m. to prepare lunches for his children. When questioned about the potential disturbance to neighbors, Monje-Deisseroth smiled, noting that many Nobel laureates live in their neighborhood.
This acknowledgment marks a significant achievement in Deisseroth’s career, blending scientific inquiry with practical applications in medicine.
For further updates, visit the AP’s Nobel Prizes hub here.
