DFG congratulates Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel on Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Researchers Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking discoveries in optogenetics. Their work established the use of light-sensitive proteins to control specific cells with light, enabling precise optical control of neurons.

Georg Nagel, Karl Deisseroth, and Peter Hegemann's research enables switching nerve cell activity in living brains using light, advancing brain research and understanding. This breakthrough method, known as optogenetics, is now used worldwide to investigate psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Researchers Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. Their discoveries have revolutionized brain research and opened new avenues for understanding neural circuits and developing new treatments.

Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel discovered channelrhodopsin, enabling light-controlled nerve signals in the brain. This breakthrough has enabled neuroscientists to study brain function and neural circuits, paving the way for new research and therapeutic efforts.

The BIAL Award in Biomedicine 2025 boasts a €350,000 prize amount, recognizing outstanding biomedical research with significant clinical impact. The award's unique criteria and altruistic nature have contributed to its growing reputation as a prelude to the Nobel Prize.

The American Chemical Society's President Dorothy J. Phillips congratulates Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi on their Nobel Prize in Chemistry win for developing metal-organic frameworks. This award highlights the power of chemistry to address global challenges through international collaboration.