The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded for optogenetics. How should we understand this technology—'precisely controlling the brain with light'?

In 2005, Karl Deisseroth and colleagues introduced Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) into mammalian neurons via lentivirus, demonstrating that ChR2 not only stably expresses in neurons but can also be reliably activated by blue light, with response times reaching the millisecond scale (1–2 ms)—precisely matching the timescale of neuronal action potentials [16]. This work stands as one of the landmark foundational achievements of modern optogenetics. Subsequently, Deisseroth’s team—through collaboration with others—developed minimally invasive deep-brain optical fiber implants, targeted delivery using adeno-associated virus (AAV), and a multicolor optogenetic toolkit, transforming a microbial molecule into a standardized tool accessible to neuroscientists worldwide. Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel are indisputably the founding pioneers of optogenetics; their receipt of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is thoroughly deserved. Developments after 2005 constitute the critical groundwork enabling optogenetics to earn the Nobel Prize. In August 2005, Deisseroth’s team published the groundbreaking paper 'Millisecond-timescale, genetically targeted optical control of neural activity', marking the formal birth of modern optogenetic technology—and later coined the term 'Optogenetics' in a subsequent review. From 2006 to 2010, the introduction of NpHR enabled light-controlled inhibition [17], expanding optogenetics from single-neuron manipulation to circuit-level neuroscience, achieving millisecond-scale optical control over specific cell types in living brains. Deisseroth’s team developed a minimally invasive, implantable micro-optical fiber system [18], allowing light to penetrate the cortex and precisely illuminate deep brain nuclei—including the amygdala and nucleus accumbens—in awake, freely moving animals. Simultaneously, combining recombinant AAV (rAAV), the Cre-LoxP recombination system, and cell-type-specific promoters enabled precise genetic expression in defined brain regions and neuron subtypes—e.g., dopaminergic or GABAergic neurons. After 2010, engineered opsins with varied activation/deactivation kinetics emerged, and the usable light spectrum expanded beyond blue light to include diverse wavelengths [19][20]. In 2012, breakthroughs in structural biology enabled rational engineering and optimization of opsins [21]. Since 2015, fiber-free techniques have been realized, permitting wireless control of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves—even during unrestrained animal behavior [22]. In 2020, Deisseroth’s team employed the highly sensitive, red-shifted channelrhodopsin ChRmine to achieve transcranial optogenetics in mice, enabling millisecond-scale control at depths up to 7 mm without invasive intracranial fiber implantation [23].

The 2026 Nobel Prize was awarded for optogenetics—prompting us to revisit this previously overlooked pioneer of optogenetics: Zhuo-Hua Pan.

The slight discrepancies between the two aforementioned lists reflect how assessments of scientific contributions can sometimes spark debate—here, inevitably bringing to mind the Chinese scientist Zhuo-Hua Pan. Indeed, on September 1, 2016—ten years ago—the prominent biomedical media outlet STAT published an exclusive investigative article titled 'Who Invented Optogenetics First?' Since its central figure was the Chinese scientist Professor Zhuo-Hua Pan, BioArt has chosen this occasion to republish the piece for its readers. Ten years ago, BioArt translated and adapted STAT’s article—titled 'He may have invented one of neuroscience’s biggest advances. But you’ve never heard of him'—for its readership. Readers’ feedback regarding any omissions or inaccuracies is warmly welcomed and appreciated! Below is the translated article (with some editorial annotations added): Translated by BioArt Optogenetics has sparked a revolution—not only in neurobiology but across biomedicine more broadly. Briefly, optogenetics refers to a method that uses genetic engineering combined with light to precisely manipulate neural cell activity. This technique is non-invasive and enables highly specific targeting. It was named 'Method of the Year' by Nature Methods and ranks among the most transformative technological breakthroughs in neuroscience over recent decades. Optogenetics holds immense promise for biomedical applications—such as treating blindness, Parkinson’s disease, and alleviating chronic pain. Moreover, it is now widely adopted in laboratories worldwide to investigate how animal brains function, thereby helping scientists better understand behaviors like sleep, addiction, and perception. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that two American scientists—Karl Deisseroth (Professor at Stanford University) and Edward Boyden (now Associate Professor at MIT)—rose to global prominence through optogenetics. In 2005, Boyden and Deisseroth co-authored a landmark paper in Nature Neuroscience; Boyden was first author, while Deisseroth served as corresponding author. Notably, Feng Zhang—the CRISPR luminary—was second author on that paper; he was then a first-year graduate student in chemistry who contributed key experimental work. Intriguingly, both Deisseroth and Boyden earned their PhDs under Richard Tsien at Stanford University. Early in 2005, Deisseroth had just completed his postdoctoral training and joined Stanford as an assistant professor, while Boyden was still a PhD student in Yuh-Nung Jan’s lab—and obtained his doctorate that same year. In fact, Boyden and Deisseroth were not in a traditional postdoc–PI relationship; rather, they began collaborating based on shared ideas and jointly advanced the project step-by-step. (For further historical context on optogenetics, see Boyden’s essay 'The Birth of Optogenetics'.) As a result of optogenetics, Deisseroth became a world-renowned scientific star—often hailed as the 'father of optogenetics'.

Optogenetics Researchers Win Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

2 days ago

Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel won the 2026 Nobel Prize for optogenetics discoveries, advancing light-controlled ion channel technology with significant implications for neuroscience and pharmaceutical R&D.

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2026-10-05

Optogenetics Researchers Win Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

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