William Harris holds a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota. Since 1980, his research has focused on omega-3 fatty acids and human lipid metabolism, platelet function, cardiovascular and neurocognitive disease. He has been on the medical faculties of Kansas University, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and is currently at the University of South Dakota. He has been the principal investigator on 5 omega-3 related NIH grants and has published over 300 omega-3-related papers. Dr. Harris was a co-author on 3 American Heart Association Advisory Statements on fatty acids and heart health. In 2004 he and his colleague Clemens von Schacky, MD proposed that the “Omega-3 Index” (RBC EPA+DHA) be considered as a new risk factor, for not only cardiovascular but also neurocognitive diseases. In 2009, he started OmegaQuant Analytics, LLC to offer the test to researchers, healthcare providers and consumers. In 2020, he founded the Fatty Acid Research Institute, a non-profit entity to foster research on the connections between fatty acids and health.
