The human brain remains the most complex and mysterious organ in biology and medicine today and much is still to be understood about what is in charge of our cognition, behavior, thoughts, emotions and senses. The Foundation greatly values the importance of research into the human brain and has set up an Endowed Professorship at Stanford University in 2012.

Professor Karl Deisseroth of Stanford University, a practicing psychiatrist and neuroscientist, was appointed the D. H. Chen Professor of Bioengineering and of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He is at the forefront of fundamentally advancing science with the paradigm-shifting technologies of optogenetics, a tool allowing scientists to understand more about how specific neurons function by placing light-sensitive proteins into them and controlling their activities through light, and CLARITY, a groundbreaking process that renders a brain transparent enabling unprecedented insight into the complex structure. These revolutionary breakthroughs will advance our understanding of challenging neurological diseases and ultimately translate into meaningful treatment strategies for millions around the world.

For his seminal work in optogenetics, Prof. Deisseroth was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2026 jointly with Profs. Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel, who discovered the light-sensitive ion channel protein used in the technique. His other awards include the Lasker Award, the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, and the Massry Award.