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Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discoveries of light-regulated ion channels and optogenetics

Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel will be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2026.

Science has long sought to understand how the brain creates memories, feelings and attitudes. The discoveries made by this year’s Nobel Prize winners in Physiology or Medicine have made it possible to develop an innovative method called optogenetics. This method allows to detect in real time which nerve cells of the brain are activated in the face of a memory, a feeling and an attitude.

“Optogenetics allows the brain to be mapped in a way that was previously impossible,” said Per Svenningsson, chairman of the Nobel Committee on Physiology or Medicine.

“With the introduction of the channelrhodopsin protein, all cell types become sensitive to light.”

Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel discovered a protein called channelrhodopsin in a single-celled algae. Later, Karl Deisseroth modified this protein into a light-activated ion channel to function in nerve cells.

It all started with an algae

Peter Hegemann was intrigued by the algae of the Chlamydomonas genus. These single-celled algae are able to perceive a light source and swim towards it. in the 2000s, together with Georg Nagel, he discovered the protein canelrodopsin on the surface of these algae, demonstrating that this protein acts as a channel if activated by blue light. Blue light opens the channel, ions enter the algae and an electric pulse is generated. In addition, these two researchers have shown that this protein retains its function in any other cell type and makes this cell sensitive to light.

“By illuminating these cells with blue light, he managed to create a nerve signal.”

He followed the rats

From these findings, Karl Deisseroth incorporated this protein into rat nerve cells. By illuminating these cells with blue light, he managed to produce a nerve signal. He then tried the same thing, but in living mice, and even in this case, he managed to induce the nerve signal.

Optogenetics is born

Currently, the new method that has been created based on these findings is called optogenetics and allows the identification and control of nerve signals using light. Studies have already been carried out using this technique and researchers have been able to recognize the neural circuits behind specific memories, feelings and attitudes in the case of various neurological and psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's...

In clinical medicine, it may allow visual restoration in people with visual impairment, for example in the case of pigmentary retinosis. Additionally, it has been suggested that it may also serve to improve cochlear implants.