At Epilepsy Research UK's evening lecture in Southampton in October 2007, Carrie Hammond explored how epilepsy can be inherited.

It has been known for a long time that some types of epilepsy can be inherited. However, only about 1% of cases of epilepsy show a clear family inheritance pattern. For the 60% of people with epilepsy, no specific cause for their seizures can currently be found. Research is just beginning to show how genes may play a role in these cases.

Carrie Hammond is a genetic counsellor studying for a PhD at Swansea University. She is the coordinator of the Wales Epilepsy Research Network (WERN), which brings together epilepsy specialist doctors and medical scientists to drive epilepsy research forward and improve the treatment of patients.