Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2026

A comprehensive overview of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, including its origin in Alfred Nobel’s will, administration by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, historical context and quick facts (117 medicine prizes, 235 laureates, 14 women, youngest laureate 31, oldest 87). The content links to lists of laureates, nomination and selection processes, outreach and educational resources, Q&As, and themed articles that profile landmark discoveries (examples include HIV discovery, mRNA vaccines, and Helicobacter pylori). Featured laureates, museum material, newsletters and social media channels are highlighted for readers who want deeper dives or regular updates.

The 2026 prize is awarded jointly to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.” Hegemann and Nagel identified channelrhodopsin, a light-sensitive algal protein that confers light responsiveness when expressed in diverse cells. Deisseroth introduced the channelrhodopsin gene into rat neurons and, by illuminating them with blue light, triggered nerve signals, later demonstrating control of neurons in living mouse brains. That combination - discovery of light-gated ion channels and their genetic application to switch individual nerve cells on and off - established optogenetics as a powerful, widely adopted method for probing how brains generate memories, emotions and behaviors.