ERC-funded scientist among winners of 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine
Peter Hegemann has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine alongside two fellow researchers for pioneering optogenetics
Peter Hegemann, whose pioneering research has received two European Research Council (ERC) grants, has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, alongside Karl Deisseroth and Georg Nagel, for discoveries that revolutionised neuroscience.
The three scientists were recognized for their work on optogenetics, a groundbreaking technique that uses light to control nerve cells. Their discoveries have enabled researchers to investigate how brain circuits govern memories, emotions and behaviour with unprecedented precision, opening new avenues for understanding neurological and psychiatric disorders.
The breakthrough began with Hegemann and Nagel's discovery of channelrhodopsin, a light-sensitive protein found in algae. Deisseroth subsequently demonstrated how this protein could be used to activate nerve cells with ligh, setting the foundations for the new modern field of optogenetics.
The ERC has supported Hegemann's pioneering research through two major grants. An Advanced Grant awarded in 2016 enabled him to investigate new light-sensitive proteins and develop optogenetic tools. Since 2022, an ERC Synergy Grant has supported his collaboration with two other researchers to extend optogenetics to a wider range of biological systems.
“Congratulations to Peter Hegemann, Karl Deisseroth and Georg Nagel. Their discoveries have transformed our ability to study the brain. The European Union is proud to have supported Professor Hegemann. His achievements show why giving scientists the freedom to pursue bold ideas can open entirely new fields of knowledge and create opportunities for future medical advances,” said European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva.
ERC President Maria Leptin highlighted the importance of investing in fundamental research:
“Their breakthroughs are a reminder of why Europe needs to invest in blue-sky research and give outstanding researchers the freedom to follow their scientific instincts.”
Hegemann joins 15 previous ERC grantees who have received Nobel Prizes, underscoring the importance of European support for frontier research and scientific discovery.