2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine: How Light Makes the Brain Researchable

Can you control nerve cells with light? Dr. Elisabeth Maluck explains how optogenetics works and what it reveals about our brain. Light-sensitive proteins, originally discovered in algae among other organisms, allow researchers to selectively switch specific nerve cells on and off. This makes it possible to investigate how the brain processes information, forms memories, and controls behavior. The method also opens up new research approaches for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

This public lecture on the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine is part of the "Excellent Ideas. Simply Explained." series from the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. Dr. Maluck presents the scientific background in a vivid and understandable way. No prior knowledge is required. Afterward, there will be time for questions and discussion.

About the speaker: Dr. Elisabeth Maluck is a biochemist and holds a doctorate in neurobiology. In her research, she studied sleep mechanisms in roundworms and used optogenetics herself to do so. Today, she works in quality management at a medical technology company in Görlitz, supporting the development and market approval of blood tests to determine immune status.

The lecture will take place on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM in the Large Lecture Hall, Room 0.01, Building Z IV, Theodor-Körner-Allee 8, 02763 Zittau. All interested parties are welcome. Registration helps with planning, but participation is also possible without prior registration. Contact: Lucas Wenzel, lucas.wenzel@hszg.de.