Three scientists to share 12m Swedish kronor prize for their work on ‘light-gated ion channels and optogenetics’

The Nobel prize in physiology or medicine 2026 has been awarded to three scientists for their work investigating the mysteries of the brain.

Karl Deisseroth of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University, Peter Hegemann of the Humboldt University of Berlin and Georg Nagel of the University of Würzburg have been awarded the prize “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics”.

The Nobel assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, announced the winners on Monday. They will each receive an equal share of a prize of 12m Swedish kronor (about £۹۰۰,۰۰۰).

The 2026 award is the 117th time the prize has been given. Of the 235 laureates – including the latest winners – only 14 have been women and none have been awarded to black scientists.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/oct/05/nobel-prize-medicine-2026-winner

 photo The three recipients, (from left) Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel are shown on screen during the Nobel prize announcement. Photograph: Pontus Lundahl/EPAphoto