Bio:

Ricardo Mercado joined the Stem Cell and Gene Editing team in the fall of 2024 as a Research Associate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from Central Washington University, where he gained hands-on experience in various research projects and developed a strong foundation in cellular biology.

Before joining the Allen Institute, Ricardo worked as a Research Assistant at Oregon Health & Science University, investigating the genetic interplay between RUNX1 and KIT mutations in systemic mastocytosis, a hematologic malignancy. Using the Lenti-X CRISPR/Cas9 system in the HMC-1.2 cell line, he studied how these mutations affected cell proliferation and drug sensitivity. His research employed techniques such as TIDE analysis and Western blotting, which contributed insights into potential therapeutic strategies for the disease.

At the Allen Institute, Ricardo now focuses on leveraging CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and cell culture methods to contribute to the Institute’s next phase of research in cellular science.