Dr. Karl Deisseroth stands as a preeminent figure in the interdisciplinary convergence of neuroscience and bioengineering, revolutionizing our understanding of brain function through innovative technological approaches. He currently holds the distinguished position of D.H. Chen Foundation Professor of Bioengineering and of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, where he has led his laboratory since 2004, and serves as an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Educated at Harvard University where he earned his BA in biochemical sciences in 1992, Deisseroth completed both his MD and PhD in neuroscience at Stanford University, finishing his PhD in 1998 and his MD in 2000. Following his doctoral work, he completed medical internship and psychiatry residency training at Stanford, becoming board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and maintains an active clinical practice specializing in affective disorders and autism-spectrum conditions.
Deisseroth's most transformative contribution is the creation and development of optogenetics, a groundbreaking technology that enables precise control of specific neural circuits using light, which has fundamentally reshaped the field of systems neuroscience by allowing causal investigation beyond mere correlation. His laboratory also pioneered hydrogel-tissue chemistry methodologies including CLARITY and STARmap, which have revolutionized three-dimensional visualization of intact neural circuits without the need for physical sectioning. These technological innovations have been disseminated to thousands of laboratories worldwide, enabling unprecedented insights into both normal neural circuit function and dysfunction in neurological and psychiatric disorders. His work has established a new paradigm for understanding the neural basis of behavior and has provided critical tools for investigating the mechanisms underlying conditions such as depression, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorders.
Beyond his methodological innovations, Deisseroth has made significant contributions to understanding the neural substrates of emotion and behavior, applying his technologies to identify specific cell types and connections that drive adaptive and maladaptive behaviors. His 2021 publication of 'Projections: A Story of Human Emotions' demonstrates his commitment to translating complex neuroscience for broader audiences while exploring the biological underpinnings of human emotional experience. As a member of all three US National Academies (Engineering, Sciences, and Medicine), Deisseroth continues to shape the direction of neuroscience research worldwide through his leadership, mentorship, and collaborative initiatives. Currently, his laboratory is investigating neural circuit mechanisms underlying ketamine's dissociative effects and studying human neural circuits during cognition, promising further breakthroughs in understanding the relationship between brain circuitry and mental states.
