Dr. Harris is an internationally recognized expert on omega-3 fatty acids and how they can benefit patients with heart disease. He has been the recipient of five NIH grants for studies on the effects of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) on human health. He has over 150 publications relating to omega-3 fatty acids in medical literature and was an author on two American Heart Association scientific statements on fatty acids: “Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease” (2002), and “Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease” (2009) both published in the journal Circulation.

In 2004, Dr. Harris and his colleague Dr. Clemens von Schacky, a cardiology researcher in Munich, Germany, proposed that the Omega-3 Index be considered a new risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and in 2009 Dr. Harris founded OmegaQuant, LLC, to offer the test to researchers, clinicians and the public. In 2011, the technology was acquired by Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc., Richmond, VA where the HS-Omega-3 Index test is now performed for medical clients. OmegaQuant continues to perform fatty acid analysis for commercial and academic researcher collaborators.

Dr. Harris currently holds several positions. In Richmond, he is a Senior Scientist at Health Diagnostic Laboratory. In Sioux Falls, he is a Research Professor in the Department of Medicine, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota; an Adjunct Senior Scientist at the Cardiovascular Health Research Center, Sanford Research; and the President and CEO of OmegaQuant.