Keynote
Marie-Christine Franken is Associate Professor at Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Trained as a speech-language therapist, she has combined clinical practice and research throughout her career, with a particular focus on developmental stuttering in children. Her work has contributed to research on early intervention, treatment outcomes, and factors associated with the onset and persistence of childhood stuttering.
She was principal investigator of the RESTARTRandomisedClinical Trial, which compared two widely used treatment approaches for preschool children who stutter. Throughout her career, she hassoughtto strengthen the connection between research and clinical practice, with the aim of supporting evidence-based care for children who stutter and their families.
As she will retire from Erasmus MC in May 2027, this keynote presentation offers an opportunity to reflect on developments in the field and on lessons learned from research and clinical practice over the course of her career.