<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000886744-11-000068.txt : 20110524
<SEC-HEADER>0000886744-11-000068.hdr.sgml : 20110524
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110524214125
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000886744-11-000068
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110520
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110524
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110524

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Nallicheri Melanie I
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001521432

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20859
		FILM NUMBER:		11869424

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GERON CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		230 CONSTITUTION DRIVE
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94025

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GERON CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000886744
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				752287752
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		230 CONSTITUTION DRIVE
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94025
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6504737700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 CONSTITUTION DRIVE
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94025

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GERON CORPORATION
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960521
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-05-20</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000886744</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GERON CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GERN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001521432</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nallicheri Melanie I</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GERON CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>230 CONSTITUTION DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP Corp Dev</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <value>185000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <value>2011-05-20</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>190000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-05-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>195000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares of restricted stock will remain subject to a reacquisition right of Geron over three years until the achievement of certain performance milestone criteria in connection with the Company's imetelstat program.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares of restricted stock will remain subject to a reacquisition right of Geron over three years until the achievement of certain performance milestone criteria in connection with the Company's GRNOPC1 program.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares of restricted stock will remain subject to a reacquisition right of Geron over three years until the achievement of certain performance milestone criteria in connection with the Company's strategic initiatives.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The shares of restricted stock will remain subject to a reacquisition right of Geron over three years until the Company's common stock price exceeds certain thresholds.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The shares of restricted stock will remain subject to a reacquisition right of Geron over 19 months until the achievement of certain performance milestone critiera in connection with the Company's GRN1005 program.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The shares of restricted stock will remain subject to a reacquisition right of Geron over three years until the achievement of certain performance milestone critiera in connection with the Company's GRN1005 program.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Olivia Bloom for Melanie I. Nallicheri</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-05-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
