STRENGTHENING the global effort to CURE neuromuscular disease

Tyler Nelson, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Florida and 2023 American Neuromuscular Foundation (ANF) Development Grant recipient, has been awarded the ANF's 2025 Best Abstract Award for his research, Mouse Models of Non-Dystrophic and Dystrophic Myotonia Exhibit Nociplastic Pain-Like Behaviors. His project reveals a direct link between muscle hyperexcitability and chronic pain in myotonic disorders. Using mouse models, Dr. Nelson showed that a single episode of muscle overactivity could lead to days of heightened sensitivity to touch, heat, and cold—even without nerve injury or inflammation. His findings highlight muscle activity itself as a driver of pain and open the door to new, non-opioid treatment targets. 

The study was inspired by both scientific curiosity and personal experience—Dr. Nelson and several of his family members live with a myotonic disorder. “Pain is our most disruptive symptom, but it’s rarely studied or taken seriously,” he says. His work provides long-awaited validation for patients who have reported pain for generations, offering a scientific foundation for better understanding and treatment.

As he prepares to present his research at the AANEM Annual Meeting for the first time this fall, Dr. Nelson hopes his research will encourage clinicians to recognize pain as a core symptom of myotonic disorders and inspire more focused investigation into its causes. “This award affirms the value of patient-centered research,” he says. “It shows that listening to patients can lead to meaningful science—and it motivates me to keep pushing for answers

that can improve lives.”

Awards like these are made possible thanks to the generous support of donors. You can make a difference by supporting researchers like this with a donation today.