William Merritt, PhD
Biomedical Engineer · Regenerative Medicine · Standards & Policy
"Advancing regenerative medicine through science, standards, and accountability."
Biomedical Engineer · Regenerative Medicine · Standards & Policy
"Advancing regenerative medicine through science, standards, and accountability."
William Merritt, PhD is a biomedical engineer and scientist-entrepreneur working at the intersection of regenerative medicine, manufacturing standards, and healthcare policy.
Dr. Merritt earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering (2017) and PhD in Biomedical Engineering (2021) from Northern Arizona University, where his doctoral research focused on the development of novel polymer gelation systems for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. His peer-reviewed work on liquid embolic materials, thrombus analogs, and biocompatible polymers has been published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology, and Surgical Neurology International.
Today, his work centers on bringing scientific rigor and manufacturing accountability to the regenerative medicine industry. Recognizing that no standardized manufacturing framework existed for allogeneic cell therapy products being used under state-authorized pathways, Dr. Merritt authored the first comprehensive manufacturing standards for the field: the AASCM Standards for Stem Cell Manufacturing, a 40,000-word, 12-part framework modeled on established accreditation frameworks in transfusion medicine, cellular therapy, and laboratory medicine.
Through the American Academy of Stem Cell Medicine (AASCM), he is building the accountability infrastructure the field has been missing: process-based manufacturing standards calibrated to 21 CFR 210/211 and 600/610 requirements, independent facility accreditation, adverse event tracking, and a first-of-its-kind clinical outcome registry. Through the Stem Cell Advocacy Network (SCAN), he advocates for evidence-based policy that protects patient access while demanding scientific accountability.
Dr. Merritt serves as Affiliate Research Faculty at Northern Arizona University and sits on the Scientific Advisory Board of IARMES. He holds more than 80 pending patents across regenerative medicine and medical technology.
He is based in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Peer-reviewed research in neurointerventional surgery, biomaterials, and regenerative medicine.
Javvaji A, Kashyap A, Carroll KM, Merritt W, Albert V, Sepkowitz E, Solomon J, Albert P, Vad VB. "Effect of Stem Cell Injections in an Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury."
DOI: 10.29011/2574-7754.101612Merritt WC, Norris N, Robertson S, et al. "Large, Wide-Neck, Side-Wall Aneurysm Treatment in Canines Using NeuroCURE: A Novel Liquid Embolic."
Huckleberry A, Merritt W, Cotter T, et al. "Application of a rabbit-elastase aneurysm model for preliminary histology assessment of the PPODA-QT liquid embolic."
PMC8326139Merritt W, Holter AM, Beahm S, Gonzalez C, et al. "Quantifying the mechanical and histological properties of thrombus analog made from human blood for the creation of synthetic thrombus for thrombectomy device testing."
Robertson S, Gaines H, West C, Roser D, Merritt W, et al. "Creation and characterization of synthetic polymer thrombus for thrombectomy device testing."
Merritt W, Koppisch A, Kellar R, Ducruet A, Becker T. "Investigation of a novel poly(propylene glycol) material for use as a protein-resistant, bio-inert implant."
Merritt WC. "Development and Optimization of an Injectable Liquid-to-Solid Polymer Gelation System for Treatment of Large and Wide-Neck Intracranial Aneurysms."
Building the accountability infrastructure regenerative medicine has been missing.
Allogeneic cell therapy products are classified as Section 351 biological products under the Public Health Service Act. While the FDA has comprehensive manufacturing guidance for such products, an increasing number of states are authorizing their clinical use without requiring federal premarket approval. This creates a gap: products in clinical use with manufacturing quality verified by no one but the manufacturers themselves.
American Academy of Stem Cell Medicine · 501(c)(3)
The AASCM establishes and enforces manufacturing standards for cell therapy products through independent accreditation. The AASCM Standards for Stem Cell Manufacturing are:
Stem Cell Advocacy Network · 501(c)(6)
SCAN is an advocacy organization working to advance evidence-based state and federal policy for patient access to regenerative therapies, grounded in scientific accountability and manufacturing quality.
Systematic innovation across regenerative medicine and medical technology.
Pending patents in regenerative medicine & cell therapy
Pending patents in medical technology, diagnostics & clinical decision support
Total pending patent applications
Patent details are proprietary. For licensing or collaboration inquiries, please use the contact section below.
Dr. Merritt speaks regularly on topics including:
Regular speaker at Healthy America conferences on stem cell education and policy
For speaking inquiries, please use the contact section below.