Matthew K. Smith Stuttering Research Fund - All gifts up to $10,000 will be matched

Matthew K. Smith ("93), continues to support innovative neurobiological research on stuttering with a renewed commitment in 2016, where gifts totaling up to $10,000 will be matched. These gifts go to support Soo-Eun Chang, PhD, Rosa Casco Solano-Lopez Research Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, who is an expert in the field of stuttering. Dr. Chang's focus is on multimodal neuroimaging, brain stimulation, speech motor control and timing and rhythm perception and production.  Currently, there is no cure for stuttering and more than 3 million Americans stutter. The etiology is largely unknown and treatment options are limited. Stuttering affects the capacity of speech communication: something that most take for granted. Speech allows us to fluently share thoughts and emotions with others. Those with moderate to severe stuttering can experience major disadvantages in psychosocial, vocational and academic aspects of life, with many developing social anxiety as a result. Dr. Chang has been working to identify neural bases of stuttering and to find more effective treatments. Regular funding is needed to make consistent strides in this research program. Click here if you would like to make a gift to the Matthew K. Smith Stuttering Research Fund.