 in the 1990s, Hegemann and his team identified and molecularly characterized the light-activated molecules in these organisms that allow them to respond to light. Known as channelrhodopsins, these molecules and their engineered derivatives are now ubiquitously used by neurobiologists to turn neurons on and off. Hegemann along with Karl Deisseroth deciphered the key principles of light-sensitive channel structure and function.
Deisseroth conducted critical experiments showing the rhodopsin proteins first studied by Hegemann in single-cell organisms could be used to activate neurons. Deisseroth and his team--which also included CRISPR pioneer Feng Zhang-- then discovered that the mammalian brain had the necessary chemicals to make these proteins functional and developed the viral and optical methods to enable study of behavior. Deisseroth's team also developed both optogenetic excitation and inhibition of neurons, achieved the first single-cell-resolution optogenetic control of neuronal activity and behavior in living mammals, and deciphered along with Hegemann the key principles of light-sensitive channel structure and function.
Boyden collaborated on critical early experiments underlying optogenetics, and was part of the team--alongside Zhang, Deisseroth and colleagues--that in 2005 published the discovery that the light-gated ion channels from algae previously studied by Hegemann could be used to control neuronal firing. Boyden went on to further develop optogenetics in his own laboratory. He designed light-sensitive proteins to inhibit, rather than to merely promote, the activity of neurons. He further refined optogenetic activators to allow independent control of multiple cells types in the brain. Furthermore, collaborating with pioneers in holographic microscopy, Boyden developed tools to exploit optogenetics as a way to imprint exact patterns of electrical activity on small groups of neurons, mimicking the natural firing.
Thus, the collective work of the four scientists has made optogenetics a ubiquitous tool in neuroscience research, allowing scientists to probe and understand a range of brain functions and dysfunctions including those that underlie sensory processing, motor control, learning, memory, emotion and social behaviors.
From the Winners
"It is truly an honor to be included among the extremely distinguished list of winners of the Alpert Award. To me personally, it is exciting to see the relatively new field of neurotechnology recognized. The brain implements our thoughts and feelings. It makes us who we are. Brain disorders affect more than a billion people around the world. These mysteries and challenges require new technologies to make the brain understandable and repairable. It is a great honor that our technology of optogenetics is being thus recognized."
"This award is an honor and a testament to the talents and creative energy of the students, postdoctoral fellows, and other trainees that I have worked with over the years at Stanford."
"I feel deeply honored to receive this prestigious award in recognition of the research I conducted with my extraordinary coworkers over many years. I hope the award will promote fundamental basic research for future applications that we have not the slightest idea about quite yet..."
"I am delighted to be in such good company, and I'm not talking just about my co-laureates. Many of my scientific heroes are among the previous recipients of the Warren Alpert Prize."
Last year's award went to five scientists for transformative discoveries in the fields of genetics, physiology, pulmonology and pharmacology that led to the development of life-altering precision-targeted treatments for the devastating multiorgan disease cystic fibrosis. They were Francis Collins, Paul Negulescu, Bonnie Ramsey, Lap-Chee Tsui, Michael Welsh.
Other past recipients of the Warren Alpert award include:
James Allison, Lieping Chen, Gordon Freeman, Tasuku Honjo and Arlene Sharpe for discoveries into cancer's ability to evade immune surveillance that led to the development of a class of cancer imm