Dr. David Hyrum Harris

David Harris completed his PhD in Materials Science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). His research focused on the intersection of soft matter physics, magnetic colloids, microscopy, and computational modeling. During his time at UAH, he procured and installed key laboratory equipment, enabling him to fabricate custom instrumentation and develop simulations that predicted the assembly of microparticles in magnetic fields.

Alongside his expertise in physical systems, he also applies his background in biological engineering to his postdoctoral research at the Sagol Department of Neurobiology at the University of Haifa. There, he addresses a central challenge in medicine: determining the neurological causes of symptoms in individual patients. Using stem cells derived from a patient’s tissue, he fabricates magnetically assembled 3D miniature organoids that mimic neurons of the enteric nervous system (ENS)—often referred to as the “second brain.” Located in the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, the ENS contains more neurons than the spinal cord. His work could enable real-time tracking of tissue development, with the potential to identify patient-specific biomarkers and support earlier intervention and more effective treatment.

Neurons are present in many organs besides the ENS, including the heart and lungs. Therefore, Dr. Harris hopes to extend these protocols to a wider range of organoids in the future.  By focusing on neurons, his research could ultimately deepen our understanding of the nervous system’s role in digestion, disease, and healing.