German and US Researchers Awarded Nobel Prize in Medicine

Georg Nagel, Peter Hegemann, and Karl Deisseroth Win Medicine Nobel Prize for Optogenetics

German researchers Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel alongside US researcher Karl Deisseroth won the Nobel Prize in Medicine on Monday for their pioneering work in optogenetics. bild.de reported from the researchers’ universities in Würzburg and Berlin shortly after the announcement from Stockholm, capturing team reactions and institutional responses to the award.

Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg marked a milestone when Professor Georg Nagel received the prize, making him the 15th Nobel laureate in the university’s history. University President Prof. Paul Pauli reached Nagel by telephone while the professor was in Italy. Pauli described Nagel as a modest and conscientious researcher who shares his knowledge generously with students and doctoral candidates. Maria Oppmann, a medical technical assistant at Würzburg’s Physiological Institute who works closely with Nagel, received a direct WhatsApp message from him after the win confirming that his colleagues could continue to use the informal “du” address with him.

Optogenetics Controls Brain Cells with Light

The Nobel Committee honored the trio for developing optogenetics, a technology that controls nerve cells using light without requiring invasive physical surgery inside the brain. The committee stated that this research demonstrates how brain nerve cells shape memories, emotions, and behaviors. Nagel had been considered a candidate for the prize due to his extensive prior accolades, meaning the announcement did not come as a complete surprise to his laboratory staff.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Medicine Nobel Prize

What specific discovery earned the researchers the Medicine Nobel Prize?

The researchers were awarded the prize for their development of optogenetics, which uses light to control nerve cells and map how neural circuits form memories, emotions, and behaviors.

Who are the three scientists awarded the prize?

The Medicine Nobel Prize was awarded to German researchers Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel alongside US researcher Karl Deisseroth.

How did Georg Nagel react to winning the Nobel Prize?

According to Julius Maximilians University President Prof. Paul Pauli, Nagel received the news with calm composure while in Italy, maintaining the modest demeanor noted by his colleagues in Würzburg.