The Curtin Stuttering Treatment Clinic has played a vital role in groundbreaking new research that has identified the DNA markers for stuttering, a speech disorder affecting more than 400 million people worldwide.

The hereditary link was confirmed in the Nature Genetics-published research after one million people across the globe provided saliva samples, including 1,380 samples from multi-generational WA families through Curtin’s clinic.

The study – the largest genetic analysis of stuttering – uncovered 48 genes associated with stuttering and 57 associated genomic hotspots. It also found a genetic link between stuttering and neurodiversity, emotional regulation and musical rhythm, suggesting a neurological basis for stuttering.

The discovery comes as the Curtin Stuttering Treatment Clinic, founded by Associate Professor Janet Beilby following her own family’s experience with stuttering, celebrates its 40-year anniversary this year.

A huge congratulations to Associate Professor Beilby, Ms Kathy Viljoen, Dr Emily Lowther and their international collaborators including Dr Shelly Jo Kraft from Wayne State University, as well as researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre, and the University of North Carolina.

Working closely with Curtin’s Corporate Communications team, the research team shared these “life-changing” findings with the world including hosting all the major media outlets on the Bentley Campus to make the exciting announcement.

You can find out more via the media release here.