A. Jennifer Doudna, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Katalin Karikó
B. Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel
C. Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun
D. Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. Their research helped establish a method that allows scientists to control nerve-cell activity using light.
Optogenetics has become an important tool in neuroscience because it enables researchers to investigate how specific brain cells contribute to memory, emotions and behaviour. The technique may also support future research into neurological disorders.