Shared with Peter Hegemann, Ph.D. (Humboldt University of Berlin) and Georg Nagel, Ph.D. (University of Würzburg), the award honors Dr. Deisseroth as a groundbreaking pioneer in the field of optogenetics. Building on Hegemann and Nagel’s early discoveries, Deisseroth developed techniques to control neural activity with light. By introducing light-sensitive algal proteins—channelrhodopsins—into brain cells, his method allows researchers to manipulate precise neural circuits. Now standard practice in laboratories worldwide, this technology has transformed modern understanding of the brain and its interplay with the rest of the body.

 

Additionally, Deisseroth’s work has influenced the development of several drugs that are in the advanced stages of clinical trials for autism and schizophrenia. The findings from optogenetics have empowered scientists to make critical headway in the treatment of disorders on the neurodevelopmental spectrum.

 

In a conversation with Head of School Daniel Alig, Deisseroth characterized the morning he received the phone call from Stockholm as one of “genuine surprise.”

“I didn’t pick up the phone at first,” he said. “It actually went to voicemail. Then they called my wife [Michelle Monje-Deisseroth, M.D., Ph.D.] and she answered the call. It’s been a very gratifying experience and given me the opportunity to communicate and reconnect with so many people and institutions that I’ve been associated with along the way.”

 

When asked about his time at SJS, Deisseroth recalled the school and its community with fondness, describing it as a “very formative year.” He attended the School with his sister Kate ’88 after his father Albert relocated the family from northern California to Houston to practice medicine and lead research at MD Anderson.

“St. John’s School was important in my growth and development,” he said. “I remember it being academically intense with great teachers like Alice Kagi. I made some great friends and met people I stay in touch with to this day.”

 

He shared that his original aspiration was to become a writer. A self-professed introspective thinker, he was deeply curious about the brain, cognition, and emotions, and how these elements collided to form the human condition. When he arrived at Harvard for undergraduate studies, his focus evolved to include biochemistry, resulting in a career that now marries his varied interests and curiosities.

 

A practicing psychiatrist, educator, author, and dedicated neuroscientist, Deisseroth is the D.H. Chen Professor of Bioengineering and of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He serves as the director of undergraduate education in bioengineering for Stanford and is a member of the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and the interdisciplinary Stanford Bio-X institute.

Deisseroth’s medical practice focuses largely on patients with autism spectrum disorders and treatment-resistant depression. He published his book Projections: The New Science of Human Emotion in 2021, blending his hands-on clinical experience with his scientific exploration from the lab. He is also a father to five children with his eldest pursuing a joint M.D./Ph.D. at Baylor College of Medicine. While his father is sadly no longer living, Deisseroth indicated that he intends to take his mother Louise on the trip to Stockholm for the official ceremony in December. 

 

In addition to his significant contributions to the inestimable benefit of humankind, Deisseroth holds the distinction of being the first Nobel Prize recipient in SJS history. St. John’s School extends its deepest congratulations on this outstanding achievement. Discover more about Deisseroth’s innumerable works and scientific discoveries at www.deisseroth.com.