The 2023 Japan Prize

• Field:
  Life Sciences
• Achievement:
  The development of methods that use genetically addressable light-sensitive membrane proteins to unravel neural circuit function
• Lecture：
  The inner workings of channelrhodopsins and nervous systems

Education

1998	Ph.D. degree at Stanford University
2000	M.D. degree at Stanford University

Professional History

2000	MD internship, Stanford University (~2001)
2000	Assistant Physician in Psychiatry, Stanford University (~2004)
2004	Principal Investigator/Clinical Educator, Stanford University (~2005)
2005	Assistant Professor, Stanford University (~2008)
2008	Associate Professor, Stanford University (~2012)
2012	Professor, Stanford University (~current)
2014	Howard Hughes Medical Institute Researcher (~current)

Key Publications

• ES Boyden, F Zhang, E Bamberg, G Nagel, K Deisseroth., (2005), “Millisecond-timescale, genetically targeted optical control of neural activity”, Nature Neuroscience, 8, 1263-1268. (citation 4,997)
• VS Sohal, F Zhang, O Yizhar, K Deisseroth., (2009), “Parvalbumin neurons and gamma rhythms enhance cortical circuit performance”, Nature, 459, 698-702. (citation 2,478)
• O Yizhar, LE Fenno, M Prigge, F Schneider, TJ Davidson, DJ O’shea, VS Sohal, I Goshen, J Finkelstein, JT Paz, K Stehfest, R Fudim, C Ramakrishnan, JR Huguenard, P Hegemann, K Deisseroth., (2011), “Neocortical excitation/inhibition balance in information processing and social dysfunction”, Nature, 477, 171-178. (citation 2,121)

Award and Honor

2005	Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
2010	Nakasone Award, Human Frontier Science Program (single)
2012	Zuelch Prize (with Peter Hegemann, Georg Nagel, and Ernst Bamberg)
2013	Brain Prize, Lundbeckfonden (with Gero Miesenbock, Ernst Bamberg, Ed Boyden, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel)
2013	Dickson Prize in Science (single)
2014	Keio Medical Science Prize (single)
2015	Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (with Ed Boyden)
2015	Dickson Prize in Medicine (single)
2015	BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (with Ed Boyden, and Gero Miesenbock)
2016	Massry Prize (with Peter Hegemann and Gero Miesenbock)
2017	Fresenius Prize, Else Kroner-Fresenius Foundation (single)
2017	Harvey Prize (with Peter Hegemann)
2018	Canada Gairdner International Award (with Ed Boyden, and Peter Hegemann)
2018	Kyoto Prize (Advanced Technology) (single)
2019	Warren Alpert Foundation Prize (with Ed Boyden, Peter Hegemann, and Gero Miesenbock)
2019	National Academy of Engineering Membership (single)
2020	Heineken Prize for Medicine (single)
2021	Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research (with Peter Hegemann, and Dieter Oesterhelt)