The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their groundbreaking research in optogenetics, which transforms how scientists can study the brain by using light to control nerve cell activity. Their work has propelled neuroscience into a new era, enabling a better understanding of brain functions and the pathways associated with behavior and diseases.
Hegemann’s research on light-sensitive proteins from algae paved the way for this development. Deisseroth further advanced the field by creating light-controlled switches for nerve cells in living mice. The announcement, made at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, opened Nobels week, with a total prize of 12 million Swedish kronor (around $1.2 million) awarded this year.
Deisseroth, who was busy preparing school lunches at home when he received the news, humorously noted that sleep was elusive after the call. The Nobel announcements will continue throughout the week, highlighting achievements in various fields, culminating in the Economic Sciences prize on October 12.
