10072187Developing and testing a novel self-guided digital therapeutic solution for preventing stammering in children: incorporating latest research on early detection and progress evaluation using real-world dataClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UK**Need** Stammering typically begins between the ages of 2 and 6, and becomes chronic in adolescence for 25% of affected children. It affects 8% of children globally and 2% of teenagers and adults. Early detection of stammering in young children is crucial for effective intervention and treatment. However, currently available tools for detecting stammering are designed for speech and language therapists (SLTs), and long waiting lists to access SLTs can worsen mental health challenges. **Project Opportunity** Respira, a UK SME, aims to develop in this project a new therapeutic solution for early detection and progress evaluation of stammering in children who stammer that parents, guardians and caregivers (PGCs) can use and interpret without SLT support. With the support of a previous Innovate UK grant, Respira built BeneTalk: a digital therapeutic solution to provide accessible, effective, and ongoing support for chronic stammering. This project aims to develop a new solution, by leveraging existing BeneTalk expertise/framework/capabilities, thus expanding Respira's market share. The diagnostic and evaluation tools developed in the project will allow also Respira to assess the effectiveness of this project by using real-world data for evidence generation. The project will have a transformative effect on Respira's technical and commercial impact, increasing its TAM, and on the UK economy in terms of taxes and employment. **State-of-the-Art** There are no digital therapeutic solutions available for PGCs of children who stammer (CWS). The current standard of care is face-to-face therapy sessions with SLTs, which are limited or expensive, and without support outside the clinic or post-therapy. This project will be compatible with both the Lidcombe Programme and Palin Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, which are standard treatment practices. This will increase the adoption of this project and achieve better therapy outcomes. **Wider Impact** The project will transform the lives of CWS and PGCs by democratising access to speech therapy: It will improve mental health by addressing anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions that affect both. Developing and commercialising this project will provide a cost-effective solution to tackle inequality due to the "postcode" lottery affecting UK speech therapy pathways. This project will enable the delivery of speech therapy in the home and reduce the need to travel to face-to-face appointments and follow-ups, which is estimated to be 1500 times greener than the standard of care. Developing such a humanitarian business benefits the UK economy due to high-skill jobs created, taxes collected, and national branding.