{"id":6797,"date":"2019-02-05T14:41:20","date_gmt":"2019-02-05T19:41:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/?post_type=directory&#038;p=6797"},"modified":"2025-04-24T15:00:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T19:00:11","slug":"jason-merker-md-phd","status":"publish","type":"directory","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/directory\/jason-merker-md-phd\/","title":{"rendered":"Jason Merker, MD, PhD"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Research Interests<\/h2>\n<p>I returned to UNC in 2018 to focus on several collaborative efforts related to clinical and translational cancer genomics. Within the School of Medicine, I split my time between clinical work in molecular pathology and translational cancer genetics research. I serve in several positions related to the application of cancer genomics in the clinical and research settings, including Director of Cancer Molecular Pathology and Co-Director of the Translational Genomics Laboratory at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC), as well as Director of Molecular Oncology and Associate Director of Molecular Pathology at UNC Hospitals McLendon Clinical Laboratories. Collectively, my efforts are focused on the development, evaluation, and application of genomics and related technologies to improve the care of patients with cancer. My group and our collaborators are involved in the multiple stages necessary to translate cancer genomic testing from initial assay development through use in routine clinical care.<\/p>\n<p>My current research interests involve three areas that share the theme of translating genomic technologies to improve the care of patients with cancer. First, the lab is active in the development and evaluation of multiple approaches for the detection of circulating, cell-free tumor nucleic acids. Second, I have a particular interest in correlative genomic studies of specimens collected from cancer clinical trials and other well-annotated sources. The clinical data, especially clinical outcome data derived from clinical trials, are critical to determining whether genomic assays have the necessary clinical validity and utility to support routine clinical use. Through the LCCC Translational Genomics Laboratory, UNC\/UT NCI NCTN Integrated Translational Science Center, and UNC Medical Center Molecular Pathology and Genetics Laboratory, we support correlative genomic studies for multiple cancer clinical trials. Finally, in collaboration with the UNC Clinical Cancer Genetics group, we are interested in using multiple orthogonal genomics approaches to identify germline cancer predisposition variants in families with heritable cancer syndromes, who do not carry known pathogenic variants.<\/p>\n<h2>Jason Merker in UNC Genetics News<\/h2>\n            <div class=\"wc-cards\"><article class=\"wc-card wc-card--1x1 wc-card--zoom\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/department-of-genetics-publications-for-june-29th-august-2nd-2025\/\" class=\"wc-card__link-wrap\"><div class=\"wc-card__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-wc_card_1x1 size-wc_card_1x1 wp-post-image\" alt=\"UNC Department of Genetics Logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__header\"><p class=\"wc-card__date\">August 8, 2025<\/p><h3 class=\"wc-card__title wc-card__title--3\">Department of Genetics Publications for June 29th &#8211; August 2nd, 2025<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__content\"><p class=\"wc-card__excerpt wc-card__excerpt--5\">Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 39 papers during June 29th - August 2nd 2025.<\/p><p class=\"wc-card__more\" aria-label=\"Read more about Department of Genetics Publications for June 29th &#8211; August 2nd, 2025\"><span class=\"wc-card__more-text\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Read more<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/article><article class=\"wc-card wc-card--1x1 wc-card--zoom\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/department-of-genetics-publications-for-march-30th-april-26th-2025\/\" class=\"wc-card__link-wrap\"><div class=\"wc-card__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-wc_card_1x1 size-wc_card_1x1 wp-post-image\" alt=\"UNC Department of Genetics Logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__header\"><p class=\"wc-card__date\">May 9, 2025<\/p><h3 class=\"wc-card__title wc-card__title--3\">Department of Genetics Publications for March 30th &#8211; April 26th, 2025<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__content\"><p class=\"wc-card__excerpt wc-card__excerpt--5\">Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 25 papers during March 30th - April 26th 2025.<\/p><p class=\"wc-card__more\" aria-label=\"Read more about Department of Genetics Publications for March 30th &#8211; April 26th, 2025\"><span class=\"wc-card__more-text\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Read more<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/article><article class=\"wc-card wc-card--1x1 wc-card--zoom\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/department-of-genetics-publications-for-march-2nd-29th-2025\/\" class=\"wc-card__link-wrap\"><div class=\"wc-card__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-wc_card_1x1 size-wc_card_1x1 wp-post-image\" alt=\"UNC Department of Genetics Logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__header\"><p class=\"wc-card__date\">April 20, 2025<\/p><h3 class=\"wc-card__title wc-card__title--3\">Department of Genetics Publications for March 2nd &#8211; 29th, 2025<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__content\"><p class=\"wc-card__excerpt wc-card__excerpt--5\">Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 30 papers during March 2nd - 29th 2025.<\/p><p class=\"wc-card__more\" aria-label=\"Read more about Department of Genetics Publications for March 2nd &#8211; 29th, 2025\"><span class=\"wc-card__more-text\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Read more<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/article><article class=\"wc-card wc-card--1x1 wc-card--zoom\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/department-of-genetics-publications-for-december-22nd-2024-january-4th-2025\/\" class=\"wc-card__link-wrap\"><div class=\"wc-card__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-wc_card_1x1 size-wc_card_1x1 wp-post-image\" alt=\"UNC Department of Genetics Logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__header\"><p class=\"wc-card__date\">January 6, 2025<\/p><h3 class=\"wc-card__title wc-card__title--3\">Department of Genetics Publications for December 22nd, 2024 &#8211; January 4th, 2025<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__content\"><p class=\"wc-card__excerpt wc-card__excerpt--5\">Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 11 papers during December 22nd, 2024 - January 4th, 2025.<\/p><p class=\"wc-card__more\" aria-label=\"Read more about Department of Genetics Publications for December 22nd, 2024 &#8211; January 4th, 2025\"><span class=\"wc-card__more-text\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Read more<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/article><article class=\"wc-card wc-card--1x1 wc-card--zoom\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/department-of-genetics-publications-for-august-18th-31st-2024\/\" class=\"wc-card__link-wrap\"><div class=\"wc-card__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-wc_card_1x1 size-wc_card_1x1 wp-post-image\" alt=\"UNC Department of Genetics Logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__header\"><p class=\"wc-card__date\">September 1, 2024<\/p><h3 class=\"wc-card__title wc-card__title--3\">Department of Genetics Publications for August 18th &#8211; 31st, 2024<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__content\"><p class=\"wc-card__excerpt wc-card__excerpt--5\">Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 18 papers during August 18th - 31st 2024.<\/p><p class=\"wc-card__more\" aria-label=\"Read more about Department of Genetics Publications for August 18th &#8211; 31st, 2024\"><span class=\"wc-card__more-text\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Read more<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/article><article class=\"wc-card wc-card--1x1 wc-card--zoom\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/department-of-genetics-publications-for-march-26th-april-8th-2023\/\" class=\"wc-card__link-wrap\"><div class=\"wc-card__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-wc_card_1x1 size-wc_card_1x1 wp-post-image\" alt=\"UNC Department of Genetics Logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__header\"><p class=\"wc-card__date\">April 10, 2023<\/p><h3 class=\"wc-card__title wc-card__title--3\">Department of Genetics Publications for March 26th \u2013 April 8th, 2023<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__content\"><p class=\"wc-card__excerpt wc-card__excerpt--5\">Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 10 papers during March 26th \u2013 April 8th, 2023.<\/p><p class=\"wc-card__more\" aria-label=\"Read more about Department of Genetics Publications for March 26th \u2013 April 8th, 2023\"><span class=\"wc-card__more-text\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Read more<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/article><article class=\"wc-card wc-card--1x1 wc-card--zoom\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/department-of-genetics-publications-for-january-29th-february-11th-2023\/\" class=\"wc-card__link-wrap\"><div class=\"wc-card__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-wc_card_1x1 size-wc_card_1x1 wp-post-image\" alt=\"UNC Department of Genetics Logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__header\"><p class=\"wc-card__date\">February 13, 2023<\/p><h3 class=\"wc-card__title wc-card__title--3\">Department of Genetics Publications for January 29th \u2013 February 11th, 2023<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__content\"><p class=\"wc-card__excerpt wc-card__excerpt--5\">Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 7 papers during January 29th \u2013 February 11th, 2023.<\/p><p class=\"wc-card__more\" aria-label=\"Read more about Department of Genetics Publications for January 29th \u2013 February 11th, 2023\"><span class=\"wc-card__more-text\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Read more<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/article><article class=\"wc-card wc-card--1x1 wc-card--zoom\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/department-of-genetics-publications-for-november-20th-december-3rd-2022\/\" class=\"wc-card__link-wrap\"><div class=\"wc-card__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-wc_card_1x1 size-wc_card_1x1 wp-post-image\" alt=\"UNC Department of Genetics Logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__header\"><p class=\"wc-card__date\">December 5, 2022<\/p><h3 class=\"wc-card__title wc-card__title--3\">Department of Genetics Publications for  November 20th \u2013 December 3rd, 2022<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__content\"><p class=\"wc-card__excerpt wc-card__excerpt--5\">Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 12 papers during November 20th \u2013 December 3rd, 2022.<\/p><p class=\"wc-card__more\" aria-label=\"Read more about Department of Genetics Publications for  November 20th \u2013 December 3rd, 2022\"><span class=\"wc-card__more-text\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Read more<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/article><article class=\"wc-card wc-card--1x1 wc-card--zoom\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/department-of-genetics-publications-for-june-5th-18th-2022\/\" class=\"wc-card__link-wrap\"><div class=\"wc-card__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-wc_card_1x1 size-wc_card_1x1 wp-post-image\" alt=\"UNC Department of Genetics Logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__header\"><p class=\"wc-card__date\">June 19, 2022<\/p><h3 class=\"wc-card__title wc-card__title--3\">Department of Genetics Publications for June 5th \u2013 18th, 2022<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__content\"><p class=\"wc-card__excerpt wc-card__excerpt--5\">Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 16 papers during June 5th\u00a0\u2013 18th, 2022.<\/p><p class=\"wc-card__more\" aria-label=\"Read more about Department of Genetics Publications for June 5th \u2013 18th, 2022\"><span class=\"wc-card__more-text\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Read more<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/article><article class=\"wc-card wc-card--1x1 wc-card--zoom\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/department-of-genetics-publications-april-10th-23rd-2022\/\" class=\"wc-card__link-wrap\"><div class=\"wc-card__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-wc_card_1x1 size-wc_card_1x1 wp-post-image\" alt=\"UNC Department of Genetics Logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/12\/Genetics-Circle-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__header\"><p class=\"wc-card__date\">April 25, 2022<\/p><h3 class=\"wc-card__title wc-card__title--3\">Department of Genetics Publications April 10th \u2013 23rd, 2022<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"wc-card__content\"><p class=\"wc-card__excerpt wc-card__excerpt--5\">Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 18 papers during April 10th \u2013 23rd, 2022.<\/p><p class=\"wc-card__more\" aria-label=\"Read more about Department of Genetics Publications April 10th \u2013 23rd, 2022\"><span class=\"wc-card__more-text\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Read more<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/article>            <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Research Interests I returned to UNC in 2018 to focus on several collaborative efforts related to clinical and translational cancer genomics. Within the School of Medicine, I split my time between clinical work in molecular pathology and translational cancer genetics research. I serve in several positions related to the application of cancer genomics in the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/department-of-genetics-publications-april-10th-23rd-2022\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Department of Genetics Publications April 10th \u2013 23rd, 2022\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":6798,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-6797","directory","type-directory","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","odd"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Jason Merker, MD, PhD | Department of Genetics<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/directory\/jason-merker-md-phd\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Jason Merker, MD, PhD | Department of Genetics\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Research Interests I returned to UNC in 2018 to focus on several collaborative efforts related to clinical and translational cancer genomics. 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I serve in several positions related to the application of cancer genomics in the &hellip; Read more\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/directory\/jason-merker-md-phd\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Department of Genetics\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-24T19:00:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2019\/02\/JasonMerker.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"350\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"350\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/directory\/jason-merker-md-phd\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/directory\/jason-merker-md-phd\/\",\"name\":\"Jason Merker, MD, PhD | Department of Genetics\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/directory\/jason-merker-md-phd\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/directory\/jason-merker-md-phd\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2019\/02\/JasonMerker.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-02-05T19:41:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-24T19:00:11+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/directory\/jason-merker-md-phd\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/directory\/jason-merker-md-phd\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/directory\/jason-merker-md-phd\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2019\/02\/JasonMerker.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2019\/02\/JasonMerker.jpeg\",\"width\":350,\"height\":350,\"caption\":\"Jason Merker, MD, PhD\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/directory\/jason-merker-md-phd\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Jason Merker, MD, PhD\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/\",\"name\":\"UNC Department of Genetics\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/#organization\",\"name\":\"UNC Department of Genetics\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/11\/Genetics_logo_png_h.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2018\/11\/Genetics_logo_png_h.png\",\"width\":982,\"height\":151,\"caption\":\"UNC Department of Genetics\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Jason Merker, MD, PhD | Department of Genetics","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/genetics\/directory\/jason-merker-md-phd\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Jason Merker, MD, PhD | Department of Genetics","og_description":"Research Interests I returned to UNC in 2018 to focus on several collaborative efforts related to clinical and translational cancer genomics. 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