Clinical Trials at MD Anderson Cancer Center

About research studies in Houston

Houston has approximately 3,144 recruiting research studies across a wide range of therapeutic areas. Texas hosts major cancer and cardiovascular research centers including MD Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and the Texas Medical Center — the largest medical complex in the world.

Common conditions studied in Houston

• Breast Cancer (87 active studies). Breast cancer trials evaluate new hormone therapies, targeted drugs, and immunotherapy combinations aimed at improving survival and reducing recurrence.
• Advanced Solid Tumor (59 active studies). Recruiting Advanced Solid Tumor studies evaluate investigational treatments, diagnostics, and supportive care approaches to improve patient outcomes.
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (58 active studies). Leukemia trials evaluate targeted inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapies, and novel combinations for acute and chronic forms of the disease.
• Ovarian Cancer (53 active studies). Ovarian cancer research examines PARP inhibitors, maintenance therapies, and antibody-drug conjugates for recurrent and platinum-resistant disease.
• Colorectal Cancer (45 active studies). Colorectal cancer trials explore novel chemotherapy combinations, targeted agents, and immunotherapy for microsatellite-instability-high tumors.
• Prostate Cancer (45 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 Houston

• M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
• Baylor College of Medicine
• AstraZeneca
• Eli Lilly and Company

Local regulations and guidelines

Clinical trials in Texas 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. Trials run in Texas must also comply with the Texas Medical Privacy Act (TMPA), which extends federal HIPAA protections to a broader range of entities handling participant data.

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 Houston. 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 Houston

Hipa.ai aggregates every recruiting study in Houston 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

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