The winners of the 2016 Massry Prize are a trio of scientists: Prof. Peter Hegemann from Humboldt-Universität, a member of the SFB 1078 and principal investigator in projects B1 and B2, shares the prize with Prof. Gero Miesenböck (University of Oxford, UK) and Prof. Karl Deisseroth (Stanford University, USA). The awardees are honored for their groundbreaking research on optogenetics, a technology that utilizes light to control cells in living tissues and to study the brain (cf. News entry from Sept. 16, 2015).

The Meira and Shaul G. Massry Foundation established the Massry Prize in 1996 to recognize contributions to the biomedical sciences and the advancement of health [1]. The laureates will give lectures at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on Oct. 21, 2016, where Peter Hegemann will speak on "The Cunning of Uncertainty" [2].

With all certainty: Congratulations to Peter Hegemann from the SFB 1078.

References:

1. Massry Prize website, http://keck.usc.edu/massry-prize/ (as of Oct. 10, 2016)
2. Current Laureates on Massry Prize website, http://keck.usc.edu/massry-prize/current-laureates (of Oct. 10, 2016)