Humboldt-Universit?t scientist wins the Wiley Prize for Biomedical Sciences 2010

Light switches for nerve cells - what was once a dream has only
recently become a fact. Peter Hegemann, Professor of Molecular
Biophysics at Humboldt-Univerist?t zu Berlin and two of his colleagues
- Prof. Georg Nagel (Wuerzburg) and Prof. Ernst Bamberg (Frankfurt) -
were awarded the Wiley Prize for Biomedical Sciences 2010. The jury
honors the three scientists for their discovery of channelrhodopsins, a
family of light-activated ion channels.

Not only contributes this discovery to basic research, but also to the
opening up of novel opportunities for investigating nerve cells
possibly resulting in new methods of treatment for neurodegenerative
diseases, such as macular degeneration, Parkinson’s disease or
epilepsy. In the future, it might be possible that nerve cells in the
brain of those patients could be "switched on or off" as necessary in a
controlled manner using light conducting glass fibers, in order to
eliminate the corresponding symptoms of the disease.

The award is to be presented at a ceremony on April 9th, 2010 at
Rockefeller University in New York.


The Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences is intended to recognize
breakthrough research in pure or applied life science research that is
distinguished by its excellence, originality and impact on our
understanding of biological systems and processes. Particular emphasis
will be placed on research that champions novel approaches and
challenges accepted thinking in the biomedical sciences. This award is
presented annually and consists of a $35,000 prize and a luncheon in
honor of the recipient.

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