PEOPLE – Sandra Sietchiping Kengni

At the beginning of my medical studies, I noticed that I have a special interest in the function of the brain and neurosciences. That is the reason why I decided to join the Albrecht Lab. In my MD thesis, I am focusing on the behavior of IL-6 knockout mice in stress and fear. My goal is to evaluate the role of IL-6 in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). IL-6 is a proinflammatory cytokine whose serum concentration increases during stressful situations. Knowing if chronic high IL-6 serum concentration is a risk factor for developing PTSD will be very helpful for the correct diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of patients with PTSD.