Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine awarded for breakthroughs in neuroscience
Three scientists have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their pioneering work that enables researchers to activate and deactivate nerve cells in the living brain, reports BritPanorama.
Karl Deisseroth, a 54-year-old American, Peter Hegemann, a 71-year-old German, and Georg Nagel, a 73-year-old German, were honoured by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute medical university. The prize, which totals 12 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million), will be shared among the recipients.
The Nobel Committee stated, “Optogenetics makes it possible to switch on, or off, the activity of individual nerve cells in a living brain.” This technique has found widespread application in laboratories globally, facilitating deeper insights into the workings of the brain.
The award for physiology or medicine traditionally marks the beginning of the annual Nobel announcements, with subsequent honours in physics, chemistry, literature, peace, and economics scheduled over the following days.
The original Nobel Prizes were established by the will of Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel, and have been awarded since 1901, experiencing only brief interruptions during World War I and World War II. In 1968, Sweden’s central bank, the Riksbank, introduced a sixth category for economics.
Throughout its history, the medicine prize has recognised numerous influential scientific advancements, including Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin in 1945 and Karl Landsteiner’s identification of human blood groups in 1930.
Last year, American scientists Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, along with Japan’s Shimon Sakaguchi, received the prize for research that elucidated how the immune system protects healthy cells, paving the way for potential new cancer treatments.
Nobel laureates are selected by expert committees convened by the respective prize-awarding bodies. The awards are presented in Stockholm, with the notable exception of the Peace Prize, which is awarded in Oslo, reflecting the historical ties between Sweden and Norway during Nobel’s lifetime.
Over 125 years since Nobel’s will was signed, the awards continue to uphold many of their traditional aspects. The celebrations culminate on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death, with presentation ceremonies attended by the royal families of Sweden and Norway, followed by gala banquets in honour of the laureates.
This year’s recognitions are another moment of reflection on the enduring impact of scientific inquiry and discovery in shaping our understanding of the natural world.
