Clinical Trials at Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center

About research studies in Hershey

Hershey has approximately 293 recruiting research studies across a wide range of therapeutic areas. Pennsylvania hosts UPenn's Perelman School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia — pioneers in CAR-T cell therapy — alongside UPMC, Thomas Jefferson University, and Penn State Hershey.

Common conditions studied in Hershey

• Neuroblastoma (8 active studies). Recruiting Neuroblastoma studies evaluate investigational treatments, diagnostics, and supportive care approaches to improve patient outcomes.
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (7 active studies). Leukemia trials evaluate targeted inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapies, and novel combinations for acute and chronic forms of the disease.
• Breast Cancer (7 active studies). Breast cancer trials evaluate new hormone therapies, targeted drugs, and immunotherapy combinations aimed at improving survival and reducing recurrence.
• Heart Failure (7 active studies). Heart failure trials explore SGLT-2 inhibitors, novel myosin modulators, and device-based therapies for both reduced and preserved ejection fraction.
• Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) (5 active studies). Recruiting Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) studies evaluate investigational treatments, diagnostics, and supportive care approaches to improve patient outcomes.
• Prostate Cancer (5 active studies). Prostate cancer studies test next-generation hormone therapies, PARP inhibitors, and radioligand treatments for both localized and advanced disease.

Leading research sponsors in Hershey

• Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
• National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• NRG Oncology
• Children's Oncology Group
• AstraZeneca

Local regulations and guidelines

Clinical trials in Pennsylvania are governed by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) standards, and federal HIPAA privacy rules. Every study is reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to protect participant safety and ensure informed consent. Pennsylvania research additionally follows state public health department oversight and any applicable state privacy statutes.

Compensation & what to expect

How payment typically works

Compensation is most often provided through reloadable electronic study cards or direct deposit, paid out per completed visit rather than as a lump sum. Amounts vary by the time required, the number of visits, and the study's complexity — overnight stays and inpatient pharmacology studies generally pay more than short outpatient surveys. The exact amount is disclosed in writing during informed consent before any visit.

Healthy volunteers

Healthy participants aged 18 and older can earn compensation by joining vaccine, pharmacology, and biomarker studies in Hershey. These trials check how a new drug or vaccine behaves in healthy bodies before later-phase testing. Many sites maintain a healthy-volunteer registry so you hear about new opportunities first.

What's included beyond payment

Most trials cover study-related medical care at no cost — physical exams, lab work, imaging, the investigational treatment itself, and follow-up visits with the research team. Insurance is not required to participate. Free check-ups and access to specialists are common reasons participants return for additional studies.

Travel and time

Many sponsors reimburse travel, parking, mileage, and lost wages for visit days. Long-running studies and trials that require frequent visits often raise stipends accordingly. Ask the study coordinator for the visit schedule and reimbursement policy before you commit.

Asking about compensation

Compensation is set per protocol and per site, so figures are not published in trial registries. The fastest way to confirm payment for a specific study is to contact the recruiting site listed on the study record. Coordinators are accustomed to this question and will quote the per-visit and total amounts up front.

How to find a clinical trial in Hershey

Hipa.ai aggregates every recruiting study in Hershey from ClinicalTrials.gov and refreshes the list daily. Use the filters above to narrow by condition, facility, age, phase, or healthy-volunteer eligibility, then click any study title to view full details — eligibility criteria, intervention, location, and sponsor contact information. To enroll, reach out to the central study contact listed on the study detail page; the research coordinator will walk you through the screening process.

Frequently asked questions

Browse more clinical trials

Related healthcare resources in Pennsylvania