Meet one of our 2025 Early Career Scholars, Lukasz Jakub Sznajder, PhD! 

Dr. Sznajder’s research is dedicated to understanding the molecular mechanisms behind diseases caused by tandem repeat expansions—especially myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2).

With nearly 15 years of experience across institutions such as Adam Mickiewicz University, the University of Florida, and now UNLV, Dr. Sznajder explores how RNA misregulation contributes to disease. His work focuses on RNA splicing, RNA-MBNL phase separation, and the development of new DM2-specific models and biomarkers. He has published 17 papers on myotonic dystrophies and earned several prestigious research awards. In 2023, he was appointed Assistant Professor at UNLV, where he continues to lead innovative DM2 research.

His MDF-funded project, “Probing Expanded RNA Species and Their Role in DM2,” aims to understand how certain RNA molecules with extra CCUG repeats may drive symptoms in DM2—and whether targeting these molecules can lead to effective treatments.

Click here to learn more about MDF's research funding opportunities and prior grant recipients.