E. Ann Yeh

Senior Associate Scientist
Neurosciences & Mental Health

Dr. Eluen Ann Yeh is a graduate of Harvard University (AB). She received an MA from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec and her MD at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.  She completed paediatrics training at McMaster University and paediatric neurology training at SUNY Buffalo, where she developed and co-directed the Pediatric MS and Demyelinating Disorders Center of Excellence.  She is currently an Associate Professor of Paediatrics (Neurology) at the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, where she is the director of the MS and Neuroinflammatory Disorders Program at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).  Her research interests are in visual and neuro-cognitive outcomes in paediatric demyelinating conditions, rehabilitative interventions for this population, especially in relation to physical activity, as well as therapies for paediatric MS.

Research

The neuroinflammatory program at SickKids has made important advances in changing the trajectory of outcomes in children with MS and other neuroinflammatory disorders.  Together with a team of scientists, Dr. Yeh's team is investigating pharmacological agents and lifestyle factors such as physical activity that can repair the brains of youth with MS.  In 2019, we showed longitudinal associations between levels of physical activity and depression and fatigue in youth with MS.  We also developed and piloted a new app and program to improve physical activity, named ATOMIC. We developed this app in response to novel findings linking physical activity and outcomes in these youth, and new opportunities to overcome barriers to improving physical activity in teens. We recently received a grant from the National MS Society to perform a multi-center trial of the effect of this intervention on physical activity in youth with MS.  We are also performing work on strategies that can repair myelin in patients with MS and other demyelinating syndromes. To this end, we have initiated a pilot feasibility trial evaluating the use of an agent, metformin, in youth with MS, which has been funded by the Ontario Institute of Regenerative Medicine.  

Education

• 1989: AB Harvard University. Graduated Cum Laude in East Asian Languages and Civilizations. Cambridge, Massachusetts. United States of America. 
• 1992: MA McGill University. Departments of Social Studies of Medicine and Anthropology. Montréal, Québec, Canada. 
• 1992–1996: PhD studies (ABD). McGill University. Departments of Social Studies of Medicine and Anthropology. Montréal, Québec, Canada.
• 1996–1999: MD McMaster University Medical School.  Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 

Experience

• 2005–2012: Assistant Professor. Division of Pediatric Neurology. State University of New York. Buffalo, New York. 
• 2006–2012: Co-Program Director, Child Neurology Residency. State University of New York. Buffalo, New York. 
• 2006–2012: Co-director, Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center of the JNI. A joint effort of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Jacobs Neurological Institute, The State University of New York and the Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo.  Buffalo, New York. 
• 2011–2012: Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics Royal College Specialty Residency Program Developer.  McMaster University.  Hamilton, Ontario. 
• 2013–2018/4: Associate Member, Institute of Medical Science (IMS). University of Toronto. Toronto, Ontario.
• 2012/07–2017/06: Education Director. Paediatric Neurology Training Program, SickKids, Toronto, Ontario. 
• 2012/07–2019/01: Associate Scientist, Neurosciences and Mental Health, Research Institute. SickKids, Toronto, Ontario. 
• 2012/04–2019/05: Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics (Neurology), University of Toronto. Toronto, Ontario. 
• 2021/04–present: Fellowship and Education Director, Pediatric Neuroinflammatory Disorders Program. 
• 2012/04–Present: Director, Paediatric Demyelinating Disorders Program, SickKids, Toronto, Ontario. 
• 2012/04–Present: Paediatric Neurologist, Division of Neurology, SickKids, Toronto, Ontario. 
• 2018/05–2023/06: Member, Institute of Medical Science (IMS). University of Toronto. Toronto, Ontario. 
• 2019/01–Present: Senior Associate Scientist, Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario. 
• 2019/06–Present: Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics (Neurology), University of Toronto. Toronto, Ontario.

Achievements

• 2019: Best scientific platform presentation.  Longoni G, Ciftci-Kavaklioglu B, Yea C, Feltham T, Brown RA, Grover SA, Albassam F, Iruthayanathan R, Yeh EA. Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centre (CMSC). Seattle, WA USA. 
• 2018: Excellence in Course Coordination, Department of Paediatrics, SickKids, Toronto, ON, Canada.
• 2017: Best scientific poster. O’Driscoll T*, Stephens S, Grover SA, Berenbaum T, Finlayson M, Motl RM, Yeh EA. Physical activity, fatigue, depression in Pediatric NMOSD and RON. Neuroinflammatory symposium: NMOSD. Toronto, ON.
• 2017: Best scientific platform presentation. Stephens S*, Shams S, Longoni G, Grover S, Lee JD, Berenbaum T, Finlayson M, Motl R, and Yeh EA. Longitudinal Relationships Between Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity, Fatigue and Depression in Pediatric MS.  CMSC.  New Orleans, LA
• 2013: CanMEDS award. Department of Neurology, SickKids

Editorial boards

• 2018–Present: Academic Editor. Public Library of Science (PLOS) ONE.
• 2017–present: Associate Editor. BMC Neurology.  
• 2016–Present: Editorial board. Multiple Sclerosis Journal.
• 2016–Present: Steering Committee: (CNS) LCH. NACHOS.
• 2015–Present: Apheresis steering committee. SickKids, Toronto, ON.
• 2015–Present: Steering committee. International Pediatric Anti-Phospholipid Antibody Syndrome Committee.
• 2013–Present: Editorial board. Neurology. 
• 2009–Present: Special Advisor on Multiple Sclerosis. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee.
• 2009–Present: Special Government Employee. US FDA (Food and Drug Administration), scientific advisor for Multiple Sclerosis. Committee on Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs. Reappointment 2014.

1. Senior Responsible Author. Yea C, Bitnun A, Branson HM, Ciftci-Kavaklioglu B, Rafay MF, Fortin O, Moresoli P, Sébire G, Srour M, Decaluwe H, Marois L, Pelletier F, Barton M, Nouri MN, Brophy J, Venkateswaran S, Pohl D, Selby K, Jones K, Robinson J, Mineyko A, Licht C, Ertl-Wager B, Yeh EA. Associations of outcomes in Acute Flaccid Myelitis with identification of enterovirus at presentation: A Canadian nationwide longitudinal study. Neurology 2020 May (In press). 
2. Senior Responsible Author. Stephens S*, Shams S, Longoni G, Grover S, Lee JD, Berembaum, T, Finlayson M, Motl R, Yeh EA. Benefits of Physical Activity for Depression and Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: A Longitudinal Analysis. The Journal of Pediatrics 2019 Jun; 209: 226-232.e2. 
3. Senior Responsible Author. Albassam F, Longoni G, Yea C, Wilbur C, Grover SA, Yeh EA. Rituximab in children with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody and relapsing neuroinflammatory disease. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 2020 Mar; 62 (3): 390-395  
4. Senior Responsible Author. Wilbur C, Reginald AY, Longoni G, Grover SA, Wong AM, Mabbott D, Arnold DL , Marrie RA, Bar-Or A, Banwell B, Costello F, Yeh EA on behalf of The Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Disease.  Early neuroaxonal injury is seen in the acute phase of pediatric optic neuritis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders 2019 Nov; 36: 101387  
5. Senior Responsible Author. Longoni G*, Brown RA, Aubert-Broche B, Grover SA, Branson HM, Fetco D, Bar-Or A, Marrie RA, Motl RW, Collins DL, Narayanan S, Arnold DL, Banwell B, Yeh EA on behalf of The Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Network.  Physical activity and dentate gyrus volume in pediatric acquired demyelinating syndromes. Neurology® Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation. 2018 September 6; 5 (6): e499