Karl Deisseroth shares Nobel Prize in Medicine news with his children

American scientist Karl Deisseroth shared the news that he won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with his family, as Euronews reported on Thursday. In footage released by Stanford University, Deisseroth was recorded telling his two daughters and his son that he had received the international honor. [1]

According to Euronews, Deisseroth shares the award with German scientists Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel. The trio received the prize for their pioneering research into optogenetics and light-gated ion channels. Euronews reported that the prize includes an award worth 12 million Swedish kronor. [1]

The Nobel Prizes are granted annually according to the principle of providing the greatest benefit to humankind. The original categories specified in Alfred Nobel's will cover physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace. [14]

The medicine award follows earlier announcements in the 2026 Nobel season. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai were named the winners of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on asymmetric organic synthesis, while Francis Halzen was awarded the physics prize for his research at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. [16][17]