The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their pioneering discoveries that laid the foundations of optogenetics.

This revolutionary technique has transformed neuroscience by allowing researchers to precisely control neuronal activity using light. It enables scientists to move beyond simply observing the brain and investigate how specific neural circuits influence perception, learning, and behavior.

At BrainVisionCenter, optogenetics plays a central role in our research. Studying and manipulating neuronal activity with such precision requires advanced optical technologies. This is where BVC’s research connects with the Nobel Prize-winning discovery, particularly through technologies such as the FEMTO3D Atlas two-photon microscope, developed by Femtonics.

In a recent HUN-REN article, Dr. Balázs Rózsa, Scientific Director of BrainVisionCenter, highlights how optogenetics and advanced optical instruments complement each other, enabling researchers to both monitor and precisely influence neural activity in three dimensions.

These advances could open new possibilities for understanding brain function, restoring vision, and developing future treatments for neurological conditions such as epilepsy and depression.

We warmly congratulate the laureates on this well-deserved recognition of a discovery that continues to shape the future of neuroscience!

Read the full HUN-REN article featuring insights from Dr. Balázs Rózsa:

From Light-Controlled Neurons to Vision Restoration – HUN-REN