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Dr. Kraft's current research focuses on the biological and behavioral genetics of stuttering, autism, SLI, SSD, and hearing loss. Other research interests include neuro-anatomical and functional features of people who stutter, auditory feedback mechanisms of speech control, autism treatment strategies, new genetic analysis techniques for modeling epigenetic complexity and exploring the relationship between cognition, temperament, and stuttering severity.
Dr. Kraft is the director of the Behavior, Speech & Genetics Lab (Rackham 051), where the majority of her research is conducted. Her latest research showcases novel approaches to the identification of gene-to-gene interaction and regulation as new genetic methodologies offer the promise of identifying etiological bases for many developmental disorders including speech and language disorders.

Dr. Kraft's research team in collaboration with the Univeristy of Texas, Baylor Medical, and Vanderbuilt University, was recently awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health to identify genes for stuttering. She will be collecting saliva samples from people all around the world who stutter.
If you are a person who stutters, or has ever stuttered, and you are interested in participating in this study, please click here to register!
Study Background: Stuttering is a developmental speech disorder that commonly runs in families. With an onset between the ages of 2-5 years old, 5-6% of children will stutter and 1% of adults will stutter. In some places of the world 11-14% of the population stutters! The genes contributing this disorder have not been conclusively identified in the population at large. This study will investigate thousands of people who currently stutter, or ever stuttered as children, for genetic markers of the disorder. Discoveries will lead to better treatment options, development of prevention strategies, and give answers to the people affected.

Education

• BA Audiology & Speech Sciences, Michigan State University
• MA Communicative Sciences & Disorders, Michigan State University
• PhD Speech Language Pathology & Human Genetics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• PostDoctoral Scholar Human Genetics, University of Chicago

Awards and grants

• Center for Mendelian Genomics 
  Genes for Persistent Developmental Stuttering: Australian Cohort
  The goal of this study is to investigate the genetics underlying this speech and language disorder. The investigation will focus on the genetics, neurobiology, cognitive and severity phenotypes within families enriched for the disorder located in Perth, Australia.
  Role: Principal Investigator, Collaborator, Analyst

  WSU Genetics Research Grant 
  Biomarkers for Speech Disorders: An Imaging Genetics Study
  The goal of this study is to investigate the pathophysiology of stuttering in 40 adults who persistently stutter and 40 matched controls. In collaboration with McMaster University, Canada, The investigation will explore gene expression, neurobiology, and allelic variation in respect to anatomical and functional differences within the experimental cohort.
  Role: Co-Principal Investigator

  National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
  Genetic Study of Developmental Stuttering
  This study will examine genome-wide genetic risk in 800 unrelated non-consanguineous individuals who stutter and 3000 ancestry matched controls with replication of top signals in an additional independent 1000 cases and 1000 controls, comprising the largest proposed genetic study of stuttering to date and aimed at the identification of genes and transmission models responsible for the disorder.
  Role: Principal Investigator

• 2009 Outstanding Teaching Award, List of Teachers Ranked As Excellent By Their Students, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign (Fall 2009, SHS 410)

  2009 Outstanding Teaching Award, List of Teachers Ranked As Excellent By Their Students, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign (Fall 2009, SHS 577)

  2010 Excellent Teaching Award, List of Teachers Ranked As Excellent By Their Students, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (Spring 2010, SHS 593)

  2013 Manuel Garcia Award
  International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics
  http://www.candgnews.com/news/wsu-prof-earns-international-award-research-stuttering

  2015 Outstanding Professor of the Year, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Wayne State University

  2017 Outstanding Professor of the Year, Department of Communiation Sciences and Disorders, Wayne State University

Timestamps

0:00-5:00 Opening remarks
5:00-14:13 Inspiration to become SLP and scientist in the field, Down Syndrome, Graduate school in London, England
14:13-30:47 Latest stuttering research, especially using genetic material, digital health, and exploring the genetic phenotypes of people who stutter and differences between different people who stutter differently
30:47-32:00 Being a mom and an SLP
32:00-40:08 Linking family history, DNA and genetics
40:08-50:44 Getting data from health records and 23andMe learning from reported family history of stuttering, mapping the genetic code and looking to see how much more we can discover
50:44- Closing remarks