Aaron Mercado-Reza, MS, CCRC

Prior to joining St. Jude as a contractor in 2022, Aaron worked for over ten years in clinical and academic research, focusing on cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, and nephrology. As a clinical research scientist, he oversaw the day-to-day operations of multiple clinical trials, with a particular interest in the research of rare and hard-to-treat pathologies.

Aaron is driven to provide safe and accurate investigational research to improve outcomes for pediatric cancer patients around the globe, aligning with the values and mission of St. Jude. He is devoted to increasing access to treatments and diagnostics for children both domestically and internationally. Aaron’s strong foundation in phases I-III of clinical studies is an excellent fit for his first role at St. Jude—developing the first international drug trial at GPM and working with low- and middle-income sites across the globe to bring frontline therapy to pediatric patients with gliomas.

Originally from the Washington, D.C., area, Aaron is of Puerto Rican and Persian descent. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in clinical psychology from Keene State College and completed an honors thesis in psychological resilience. After working as a wilderness first responder, EMT, and patient care technician in oncology, Aaron completed a Master of Science in biophysics from Georgetown University, where his elective research focused on the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease and nutrition.