Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel were awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday, the 5th. The prize recognizes their discoveries that led to the development of optogenetics, a methodology that allows for the control of nerve cells using light.
This innovative method enables scientists to examine, in living brains, how specific neural circuits are involved in processes such as memory, emotions, and behavioral patterns. Furthermore, this discovery has opened new avenues of investigation for studying neurological disorders and potential applications in the medical field.
The origin of this advance dates back to a simple question: how could the unicellular algae Chlamydomonas move towards a light source? In the early 2000s, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel identified rhodopsin on the surface of this organism. This protein functions to open a channel in the cell membrane when exposed to blue light, which generates an electrical change due to ion influx.
From this initial finding, the possibility arose to apply this mechanism to other types of cells. Karl Deisseroth introduced the gene responsible for producing this protein into rat neurons. When illuminated with blue light, these cells began to emit nerve signals. This progress was documented in 2005, and two years later, Deisseroth proved that the mechanism also worked in the brains of live mice, giving rise to the name optogenetics.
A crucial aspect of this technique was precise control. While traditional electrical stimulation methods affected various cells and structures simultaneously, making it difficult to determine the individual role of each group of neurons, optogenetics allowed researchers to activate or inhibit specific cells and observe the impact of this intervention.
The application of optogenetics has significantly expanded research possibilities in various areas. As mentioned by Per Svenningsson, chairman of the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, the technique offers opportunities to map the brain in a way previously unimaginable.
Additionally, the technology is being used in studies aimed at restoring vision in individuals with visual impairments.
Deisseroth is a professor of Bioengineering and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University and works at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, located in the United States. Hegemann holds the position of Senior Professor of Neuroscience at Humboldt University of Berlin, while Nagel is a professor of Plant Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Würzburg, both located in Germany.
The three laureates will share the sum of 12 million Swedish kronor, equivalent to approximately R$ 6.2 million, in addition to receiving a diploma and a medal.
This recognition concludes years of research that began with the study of the behavior of a small algae and resulted in the creation of a new way to analyze brain function. For Juleen Zierath, a member of the Karolinska Institute, scientific recognition can take time; she stated that, most often, many years are required for the scientific community to recognize a discovery worthy of a Nobel Prize.