Meet one of our 2026 Early Career Grant Recipients, Samuel Carrell, MD, PhD! Assistant Professor of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States Dr. Carrell is a physician-scientist focused on myotonic dystrophy (DM).

During his Ph.D. in Dr. Charles Thornton’s lab, he studied the impact of DMPK reduction in mouse heart and skeletal muscle, addressing safety concerns for DMPK-targeted therapies. He developed methods to measure toxic CUG repeat RNA, create model systems, and test allele-selective targeting, gaining expertise in mouse genetics, repeat modeling, and experimental therapeutics. After completing a neurology residency and neuromuscular fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, he integrated clinical neurology with translational research.

Now a junior faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University, he leads a DM1 research program investigating clinical variability and therapeutic responsiveness using genetic modeling, genome screening, and vector design. His project “Identifying Genetic Modifiers of Disease Severity in Myotonic Dystrophy” aims to identify genetic modifiers that influence disease manifestations by systematically knocking out genes in patient-derived muscle progenitor cells and measuring changes in disease activity. His long-term goal is to establish an independent physician-scientist career, advancing mechanistic understanding and translational approaches to improve patient care.

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