2026 Grad Slam winner strives to understand sleep disruptions in myotonic dystrophy

Christian Gerard Capuno describes sleep as having two essential components: duration, or the time the brain needs to perform essential processes, and quality, which determines whether those processes are successfully completed. For people with myotonic dystrophy, one inherited form of muscular dystrophy, sleep is especially critical - and its challenges are often overlooked.

Capuno's presentation "Understanding Sleep Disruptions in Myotonic Dystrophy" won UCLA's 2026 Grad Slam competition, a campuswide competition designed to showcase graduate research and strengthen public communication. He will now represent UCLA at the University of California-wide Grad Slam championship April 22 at the UC Student and Policy Center in Sacramento.

Grad Slam calls for graduate students from all 10 campuses to present their research in three minutes or less to a general audience. The program highlights the role graduate students play in advancing research across disciplines while challenging participants to effectively communicate complex research.

Capuno, a graduate student in physiological science, described his research as "the study of mind over matter, to understand the neurological drivers behind this disease and to take steps to correct it."

Competition reflects breadth of graduate research topics

At UCLA, more than 70 students submitted preliminary entries for the 2026 competition. Twenty semifinalists were selected, and 10 advanced to the final round, held March 11 at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center.

This year's finalists represented a wide range of disciplines and research areas. Presentations addressed topics including Alzheimer's disease, cancer biology, artificial intelligence, environmental systems and neuroscience, reflecting the diversity of graduate research at UCLA. The first-place winner receives $5,000.

Across the UC system, Grad Slam presentations similarly span fields such as public health, engineering, climate science and biomedical research.

Winning presentation focuses on sleep disruptions in myotonic dystrophy

Capuno, who conducts research under the guidance of Ketema N. Paul of the UCLA Brain Research Institute, described myotonic dystrophy as "the most common multi-systemic muscular dystrophy," affecting 1 in every 2,000 people and significantly shortening lifespan. While the condition is often associated with physical symptoms such as muscle paralysis, weakness and pain, Capuno emphasized that patients identify a different primary challenge.

"If you ask them what makes their life most difficult, they'll tell you they don't sleep well," he said. "They can't focus. They can't function. They can't be present for their daily lives."

Capuno also pointed to a gap in current understanding, noting that "we really have no idea what's going on in the brain."

Research examines how 'the whole systems suffers' when brain doesn't regulate sleep

Capuno works with mice that carry the same genetic defect and monitors their brain activity during sleep. He reported that affected brains lose the ability to compensate for stress, whereas a healthy brain can adapt by delaying processes and intensifying activity later to recover lost time once the stress has passed.

Capuno illustrated this difference by comparing it to "driving without a suspension or crashing without an airbag," adding that "in the absence of these dampeners, the whole system suffers."

He closed his presentation by asking the audience to consider the experience of chronic exhaustion: "Can you imagine going to bed exhausted at the end of a long day and realizing that going to sleep won't help you?"

Judging emphasizes clarity and public engagement

Judging panels for the preliminary, semifinal and final rounds included faculty, academic deans, administrative staff, alumni, postdoctoral scholars and donors, with an emphasis on representing a range of disciplines.

Presenters were evaluated on their ability to communicate complex research to a non-expert audience, with scoring based on clarity, organization, delivery, appropriateness, intellectual significance and audience engagement. Each judge awarded up to 30 points across these criteria.