Nobel Prize in Medicine Honors Pioneers of Brain Research
WHO:
ABC News - Dr. Karl Deisseroth is a psychiatrist and neurologist at Stanford University and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator.
ABC News - Dr. Michelle Monje-Deisseroth is a pediatric neuro-oncologist at Stanford University and an HHMI investigator.
Boston.com News - Karl Deisseroth is 54 years old, Peter Hegemann is 71 years old, and Georg Nagel is 73 years old.
BBC News - Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, Georg Nagel
NY Post - Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, Georg Nagel
Phys.org - Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, Georg Nagel
WHAT:
ABC News - Deisseroth stated, “I needed to make school lunches for my children, who were asleep in the family home in Stanford.”
ABC News - Deisseroth described himself as a “self-described night owl” who often works past midnight.
ABC News - Deisseroth mentioned, “I care about patients and my patients who have autism, who have depression,” highlighting his dual role as a physician-scientist.
ABC News - Deisseroth stated, “I almost felt as if I’d lost the power of forming words,” after receiving the Nobel Prize.
ABC News - Deisseroth mentioned, “No real sleep was achieved,” after the announcement of the Nobel Prize.
ABC News - Deisseroth expressed his care for patients with autism and depression, saying, “I care about the hope that this brings.”
ABC News - Deisseroth expressed surprise at winning the Nobel Prize, stating, “I almost felt as if I’d lost the power of forming words,” but he recovered quickly for interviews.
ABC News - Deisseroth mentioned the real-world impact of his research, saying, “I care about the hope that this brings” for patients with autism and depression.
Boston.com News - The research conducted by the awardees focused on light-gated ion channels in addition to optogenetics.
IJR - The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded for discoveries behind optogenetics, a technique that uses light to control activity in individual nerve cells and study the brain.
BBC News - The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their work.
NY Post - The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to three scientists for developing optogenetics to study brain activity.
Phys.org - The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded for work in the field of optogenetics.
WHERE:
BBC News - The awardees include a U.S. psychiatrist and neurologist and German colleagues.
Phys.org - The awardees are from the United States and Germany.
WHEN:
Phys.org - The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded on a Monday.
WHY:
NY Post - The prize was awarded for research into brain activity.
HOW:
ABC News - Deisseroth described his work as helping to “open a new field of brain science called optogenetics.”
ABC News - Deisseroth described his work as helping to open a new field of brain science called optogenetics.
ABC News - Deisseroth described optogenetics as a field that combines light with genes to switch on and off neurons in living brains.
NY Post - The scientists developed optogenetics as a method to study brain activity.
(UPDATED October 6, 2026 08:03 UTC)
Deisseroth shared that he needed to make school lunches for his children, who were asleep at home in Stanford, while he often works late into the night as a self-described night owl. He emphasized his commitment to his patients, particularly those with autism and depression, showcasing his dual role as a physician-scientist. Additionally, Deisseroth highlighted his contributions to brain science through his pioneering work in a new field called optogenetics.
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(UPDATED October 6, 2026 07:14 UTC)
After receiving the Nobel Prize, Deisseroth shared his overwhelming emotions, stating, “I almost felt as if I’d lost the power of forming words,” and revealed that he had “no real sleep” since the announcement. He expressed a deep commitment to his patients with autism and depression, emphasizing, “I care about the hope that this brings.” Deisseroth also highlighted his groundbreaking work in brain science, which has helped to open a new field known as optogenetics.
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(UPDATED October 5, 2026 22:02 UTC)
Dr. Karl Deisseroth, a psychiatrist and neurologist at Stanford University, expressed his surprise at winning the Nobel Prize, saying, “I almost felt as if I’d lost the power of forming words,” although he quickly regained his composure for interviews. He highlighted the real-world impact of his research, emphasizing, “I care about the hope that this brings” for patients dealing with autism and depression. Deisseroth also described optogenetics, a groundbreaking field that combines light with genes to control neurons in living brains.
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(UPDATED October 5, 2026 16:03 UTC)
Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel, aged 54, 71, and 73 respectively, have been recognized for their groundbreaking research. Their work delves into light-gated ion channels as well as the field of optogenetics, which has significant implications for neuroscience. This innovative research continues to push the boundaries of our understanding of how light can influence cellular activity.
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(UPDATED October 5, 2026 13:12 UTC)
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded for groundbreaking discoveries in optogenetics, a technique that harnesses light to control the activity of individual nerve cells and explore brain functions. This innovative approach has opened new avenues for understanding complex neural processes. The recognition highlights the significant impact of this research on the field of neuroscience.
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(UPDATED October 5, 2026 11:57 UTC)
The Nobel Prize in medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their groundbreaking work in developing optogenetics, a method used to study brain activity. Deisseroth is a psychiatrist and neurologist from the United States, while Hegemann and Nagel are from Germany. This prestigious award recognizes their significant contributions to neuroscience, highlighting the importance of their research in understanding how the brain functions.