Dr. Lisa Merck

Dr. Lisa H. Merck is Professor of Emergency Medicine and Neurosurgery at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where she also serves as Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Medical Director for Acute Clinical Research. As an emergency physician and clinical trialist, Dr. Merck focuses on improving clinical care during the hyperacute phase of illness.

Dr. Merck is the contact MPI of CORE-EM, an NIH-sponsored clinical trial hub within the Network for Emergency Care Clinical Trials: Strategies to Innovate EmeRgENcy Care Clinical Trials Network (SIREN). CORE-EM covers a 72-million-person catchment area in the United States and is consistently ranked as a top enroller in complex studies of TBI, status epilepticus, stroke, sepsis, COVID19, and cardiac arrest. Dr. Merck has 20 years of experience in clinical trial operations, implementation, and IRB service. This work brings together diverse multidisciplinary teams to catalyze stakeholder engagement and to facilitate patient enrollment in acute care clinical trials, 24/7/365. Dr. Merck’s collaborative trials program fosters rapid translation of evidence-based care into emergency departments (EDs), intensive care units (ICUs), operating rooms, and outpatient settings.