When retired U.S. Army Col. Jason Barnhill steps into the lab at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), he brings more than 30 years of active duty experience and a mission to protect soldiers on the battlefield.
Barnhill, now an associate professor in JABSOM’s Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, is working to build human tissue models through bioprinting, a cutting-edge technique that uses “bio-inks” instead of plastic to produce organ-like structures. These models, created from human stem cells, could help improve treatments for burns, chemical exposure, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and more.
This work is part of a new collaboration between UH Mānoa and the Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC).
“We plan to use these models for biomedical testing, instead of using animal models,” said Barnhill. “Animal models have various drawbacks that we hope to avoid with our models.”
Barnhill explains that human-based models are more accurate than testing on animals. “Reactions in human genomes are very distinct to those in ‘little white lab mice,’” he said. “It’s really critical that we develop bioprinting and other advanced manufacturing techniques here in Hawaiʻi because we’re so isolated. Ideally we can build up our capacity and then be in a position to assist others.“
A personal focus on eye health
While the partnership covers a range of threats, Barnhill is particularly drawn to eye research. “I’m especially interested in the cornea… and how we could make models of the cornea that could then be used to look at chemical exposure or infectious disease exposure,” he said.
Inspired by a family history of macular degeneration, he’s also exploring the idea of 3D-printed contact lenses that could protect against chemical burns.
“I’ve been tossing around the idea with some of my colleagues (at DEVCOM)…maybe being able to 3D print some type of contact lens or other thing that would be protective for the eye,” Barnhill said.
A return home to Hawaiʻi
Barnhill’s ties to Hawaiʻi run deep. After arriving in 2000 for a master’s in biomedical sciences at UH Mānoa, he kept returning—earning his PhD, working at Tripler Hospital, and living in the islands for more than a decade.
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“Really, Hawaiʻi has become home for me and my family,” he said.
Now, he’s mentoring undergraduates at JABSOM and hopes to spark collaborations across UH Mānoa, including with Associate Professor Tyler Ray from the College of Engineering, whose lab houses several bioprinting devices.
“Hawaiʻi‘s home for me now, so I want to help my home as much as I can,” said Barnhill. “I’m excited to have the chance to do this work that I think will be beneficial to both our service members and to the people of Hawaiʻi.”
