SEED Talk - The Science of Intergenerational Trauma
Wed, Sep 03
|Brighthelm Centre, Brighton
Discover how trauma is passed down from generation to generation and explore how early interventions can prevent harmful consequences.


Time & Location
Sep 03, 2025, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Brighthelm Centre, Brighton, North Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1YD, UK
About the event
Trauma does not always end with the person who experiences it. Recent cutting-edge studies show that extreme stress can leave biochemical ‘sticky notes’ on our DNA. These tiny epigenetic tweaks not only play a role in how our bodies respond to danger but also could be passed down to generations. When war, displacement, or abuse alters stress-response genes, a child can inherit a nervous system already tuned to hyper-vigilance, shaping lifelong health and behaviour.
In this talk, Dr Jeffrey DeMarco unpacks the science behind intergenerational trauma, showing why biology is not destiny. Drawing on fieldwork with families across seven countries, he explains how positive relationships, safe digital spaces, and evidence-based interventions can ‘rewrite’ these harmful patterns before they ripple onwards.
Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7.30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!
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Speaker Bio:
Dr Jeffrey DeMarco is a Senior…
