Eleanor Fish Explained

Eleanor N. Fish
Thesis Title:Structure/function studies on recombinant DNA-derived human interferons
Thesis Url:http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/23651798
Thesis Year:1990
Workplaces:University of Toronto
Birth Place:London
Website:Eleanor Fish at the University of Toronto

Eleanor N. Fish is a Canadian immunologist who is a Professor of Immunology at the University of Toronto. Her research considers how cytokines and chemokines interact with receptors in cells and tissue. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fish tested interferon-alpha as a treatment for coronavirus disease.

Early life and education

Fish was born in the United Kingdom and grew up in London.[1] As a child she was interested in music and fine art. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Manchester.[2] She moved to King's College London for her graduate studies, where she worked toward a master's degree in virology. For her doctoral research she joined the University of Toronto, where she studied cell biology. Her research established structure–function relationships in human interferons derived from recombinant DNA.[3] She has studied art at the OCAD University.

Research and career

Fish is involved with investigations into cytokines and the development of broad spectrum antiviral drugs.[4] [5] In an effort to understand rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, Fish has investigated the immune responses that underpin autoimmunity.[6]

In 2003 Fish led investigations antivirals that could into the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in Toronto. She investigated the use of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) corticosteroids to treat patients with SARS, and showed in a clinical trial that IFN-α treatment was associated with a reduction in impaired oxygen saturation, lung abnormalities and lower levels of creatine kinase.[7] IFN-α is a naturally occurring protein that is produced in response to viral infection, and has been shown to have therapeutic properties in the treatment of viral infections. They do this by triggering an immune response as well as inhibiting the virus from multiplying.[8] The success of these clinical trials prompted her group to examine the use of IFN-α as a treatment for emerging infectious diseases, including Influenza A virus subtype H1N1.[9]

Fish has investigated the use of IFN-α as a treatment for ebola virus disease.[10] In 2017 she led a clinical trial where she observed that patients treated with IFN-α had better outcomes than those receiving conventional treatment.[11] [12] After this study, the IFN-α developed by Fish was used to treat patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).[8] Fish worked with the World Health Organization to establish the effectiveness of ebola vaccines and therapeutic interventions.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fish provided regular expert commentary to the media and public.[13] She called for widespread testing and contact tracing to better understand the spread of the disease.[14] With regards to the observation that men are more likely to die of coronavirus disease than women, Fish said that women generally have a more robust immune system, as well as better hygiene.[15] Early results from China indicated that interferon treatment, similar to the approach that Fish had used for SARS and Ebola virus disease patients, was effective against coronavirus disease. Fish proposed that "those who are severely ill with this coronavirus should be receiving a daily dose of interferon". In April 2020 Fish investigated interferons as a treatment for coronavirus disease, and participated as an advisor to the COVID-19 Therapeutics Task Force convened by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.[16]

Awards and honours

Academic service

Fish is the Executive Director of Beyond Science Initiative, a nonprofit that supports science students from marginalised groups.[23] She spends one month of each year teaching at Moi University, a medical school in Kenya.[24] At Moi Fish runs programmes in immunology, with a focus on women and maternal health. She serves on the executive committee of the Canadian Organisation for Gender and Sex Research.[25]

Selected publications

Fish serves on the editorial board of the BioMed Central Signals.[29]

Personal life

Fish was married in 1975, when she moved to Toronto. She is an artist, painting figure paintings and landscapes using watercolour inks.[30]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About. Eleanor Fish. en. 2020-04-29.
  2. Web site: Prof. Eleanor Fish. HSTalks. en. 2020-04-29.
  3. Structure/function studies on recombinant DNA-derived human interferons. National Library of Canada. 1990. Ottawa. English. Eleanor N. Fish. 23651798.
  4. Web site: Eleanor Fish Interview Immunopaedia. 30 April 2018. en. 2020-04-29.
  5. Web site: Eleanor N Fish, PhD. UHN Research. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160827222629/http://www.uhnresearch.ca:80/researcher/eleanor-n-fish . 2016-08-27 . 2020-04-29.
  6. Web site: Fish Eleanor N. The AAS. www.aasciences.africa. 2020-04-29.
  7. Mona Loutfy. Blatt. Lawrence M.. Siminovitch. Katharine A.. Ward. Sarah. Wolff. Bryan. Lho. Hyoung. Pham. Dieu H.. Deif. Hassan. LaMere. Elizabeth A.. Chang. Margaret. Kain. Kevin C.. 2003-12-24. Interferon alfacon-1 plus corticosteroids in severe acute respiratory syndrome: a preliminary study. JAMA. 290. 24. 3222–3228. 10.1001/jama.290.24.3222. 1538-3598. 14693875.
  8. Web site: Is there another weapon in the coronavirus fight? A Toronto researcher wants to 'shout it from the rooftops'. 2020-02-03. thestar.com. en. 2020-04-29.
  9. News: Funding for antiviral research key in flu fight doctor says. 2020-04-29.
  10. Web site: Eleanor N. Fish. Scientus Pharma. en-CA. 2020-04-29.
  11. Web site: Interferon drug shows promise in treating Ebola. ScienceDaily. en. 2020-04-29.
  12. News: Canadian scientists discover hepatitis drug slashes Ebola death rate in possible breakthrough National Post. News. Canada. National Post. 2017-03-20. en-CA. 2020-04-29.
  13. Web site: Analyzing the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. 2020-02-03. The Medium. en-CA. 2020-04-29.
  14. Web site: WHO issues guidelines for lifting coronavirus restrictions. Is Canada ready? - CityNews Toronto. toronto.citynews.ca. 2020-04-29.
  15. Web site: Why do some people exposed to coronavirus get sick and others don't?. 2020-03-26. Coronavirus. en. 2020-04-29.
  16. Web site: . 2022-03-10 . COVID-19 Therapeutics Task Force . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230427230210/https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/canadian-life-science-industries/en/covid-19-therapeutics-task-force . 2023-04-27 . 2023-04-29 . Government of Canada.
  17. Web site: CORRECTING and REPLACING 'Seymour and Vivian Milstein Award for Excellence in Interferon and Cytokine Research' to be Awarded Jointly to Eleanor Fish, Ph.D., and Sergei Kotenko, Ph.D., at the Annual Meeting of the ISICR. 2010-09-14. www.businesswire.com. en. 2020-04-29.
  18. Web site: Eleanor Fish, Ph.D.. 2010-06-21. The Milstein Awards. en-US. 2020-04-29.
  19. Web site: Award Recipients. Canadian Society For Immunology. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160321113459/http://www.csi-sci.ca/Award_Winners.html . 2016-03-21 . 2020-04-29.
  20. Web site: Government of Canada. Industry Canada. 2012-11-29. Canada Research Chairs. 2020-06-12. www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca.
  21. Web site: 2017 Leadership in Advocacy Award. Research Canada. en-CA. 2020-04-29.
  22. Web site: Governor General announces 135 new appointments to the Order of Canada. Governor General of Canada. 20 December 2021. en-CA. 2022-01-05.
  23. Web site: AboutUs. Markster. Beyond Sciences. en-CA. 2020-04-29.
  24. Web site: Immunology Goes to Africa – Eleanor Fish's Odyssey IMMpress Magazine. www.immpressmagazine.com. 2020-04-29.
  25. Web site: Canadian Organization for Gender & Sex Research (COGS). www.cogsresearch.ca. 2020-04-29.
  26. Kong. Young-Yun. Feige. Ulrich. Sarosi. Iidiko. Bolon. Brad. Tafuri. Anna. Morony. Sean. Capparelli. Casey. Li. Ji. Elliott. Robin. McCabe. Susan. Wong. Thomas. 1999-12-16. Activated T cells regulate bone loss and joint destruction in adjuvant arthritis through osteoprotegerin ligand. Nature. 402. 6759. 304–309. 10.1038/46303. 10580503. 1999Natur.402..304K. 4411606. 0028-0836.
  27. Fish. Eleanor N.. 2008. The X-files in immunity: sex-based differences predispose immune responses. Nature Reviews Immunology. 8. 9. 737–744. 10.1038/nri2394. 18728636. 7097214. 1474-1733.
  28. Platanias. L. 1999. Signaling pathways activated by interferons. Experimental Hematology. 27. 11. 1583–1592. 10.1016/s0301-472x(99)00109-5. 10560905. 0301-472X. free.
  29. Web site: Signals. Signals. en. 2020-04-29.
  30. Web site: Portfolio. Eleanor Fish. en. 2020-04-29.

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