Clinical Trials at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

About research studies in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has approximately 1,330 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 Pittsburgh

• Breast Cancer (26 active studies). Breast cancer trials evaluate new hormone therapies, targeted drugs, and immunotherapy combinations aimed at improving survival and reducing recurrence.
• Cancer (20 active studies). Recruiting Cancer studies evaluate investigational treatments, diagnostics, and supportive care approaches to improve patient outcomes.
• Melanoma (19 active studies). Melanoma trials test immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapies, and BRAF/MEK targeted combinations in both early and metastatic disease.
• Stroke (18 active studies). Stroke trials test acute reperfusion strategies, neuroprotective agents, and rehabilitation technologies to improve recovery.
• Endometrial Cancer (14 active studies). Recruiting Endometrial Cancer studies evaluate investigational treatments, diagnostics, and supportive care approaches to improve patient outcomes.
• Ovarian Cancer (14 active studies). Ovarian cancer research examines PARP inhibitors, maintenance therapies, and antibody-drug conjugates for recurrent and platinum-resistant disease.

Leading research sponsors in Pittsburgh

• University of Pittsburgh
• National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• AstraZeneca
• Children's Oncology Group
• VA Office of Research and Development

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 Pittsburgh. 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 Pittsburgh

Hipa.ai aggregates every recruiting study in Pittsburgh 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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