Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded for Brain's Inner Workings Discovery

STOCKHOLM — The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to US psychiatrist and neurologist Karl Deisseroth and his German colleagues Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for their groundbreaking work revealing the inner workings of the brain. The announcement was made on Monday by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.

The trio was honored for developing optogenetics, a revolutionary technique that uses light to control neurons genetically modified to express light-sensitive proteins. This method has transformed neuroscience, allowing researchers to precisely manipulate brain circuits and study complex behaviors. Deisseroth, a professor at Stanford University, collaborated with Hegemann and Nagel, both based in Germany, to pioneer this field over two decades ago.

The Nobel Committee highlighted that their discoveries have provided unprecedented insights into brain function and have potential therapeutic applications for neurological and psychiatric disorders. The award underscores the importance of international collaboration in science. The laureates will share the prize sum of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1 million) and will receive their awards at a ceremony in December.