German scientists Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel, along with American Karl Deisseroth, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine this year. This was announced by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm on Monday.
They were honored “for their discoveries in the field of light-controlled ion channels and optogenetics.” Hegemann and Nagel discovered Channelrhodopsin, a protein with unique properties. They found that cells into which they introduced this protein became light-sensitive, regardless of the cell type. Deisseroth later introduced the Channelrhodopsin gene into rat nerve cells. By illuminating these cells with blue light, he successfully elicited a nerve signal. Subsequently, he managed to make this light-controlled switch functional in the brain of living mice.
This method of controlling nerve signals with light is known as optogenetics and has rapidly gained global significance. Using optogenetics, researchers have succeeded in uncovering neuronal circuits that govern certain memories, feelings, and behaviors relevant to neurological and psychiatric diseases. In clinical medicine, researchers are using this method to restore the vision of people with sight impairments.
Peter Hegemann is a professor at Humboldt University in Berlin, while Georg Nagel teaches at the University of Würzburg.
The announcement of the Nobel laureates in Medicine traditionally marks the beginning of Nobel Prize Week. On Tuesday, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences will announce the recipient in Physics, followed by Chemistry on Wednesday, and the Literature Prize on Thursday. The Peace Prize recipient will be announced in Oslo on Friday.
The Nobel Prize is considered the highest award in its respective disciplines and is granted every year on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, December 10th. The Peace Prize is presented in Oslo, while all other prizes are given out in Stockholm.
