Sacramento has approximately 616 recruiting research studies across a wide range of therapeutic areas. California hosts a dense network of world-class research institutions, including UC San Diego Health, Stanford Medicine, UCLA Health, UCSF, City of Hope, and Scripps Research. The state's thriving biotech corridor and diverse patient population make it a national hub for both early-phase and late-phase clinical research.
Common conditions studied in Sacramento
Breast Cancer (13 active studies).Breast cancer trials evaluate new hormone therapies, targeted drugs, and immunotherapy combinations aimed at improving survival and reducing recurrence.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (11 active studies).Leukemia trials evaluate targeted inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapies, and novel combinations for acute and chronic forms of the disease.
Heart Failure (11 active studies).Heart failure trials explore SGLT-2 inhibitors, novel myosin modulators, and device-based therapies for both reduced and preserved ejection fraction.
Atopic Dermatitis (10 active studies).Atopic dermatitis studies test IL-13 inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, and next-generation topical therapies for moderate-to-severe eczema.
Stage IV Lung Cancer AJCC v8 (9 active studies).Lung cancer research focuses on targeted therapies for specific mutations such as EGFR, ALK, and KRAS, alongside immunotherapy regimens.
Prostate Cancer (7 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 Sacramento
University of California, Davis
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
NRG Oncology
SWOG Cancer Research Network
Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
Local regulations and guidelines
Clinical trials in California 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. In addition, California-specific protections such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) impose stringent data-privacy requirements on research involving California residents.
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 Sacramento. 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 Sacramento
Hipa.ai aggregates every recruiting study in Sacramento 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
How many paid clinical trials are currently recruiting in Sacramento?
There are approximately 616 recruiting clinical trials in Sacramento, California listed on ClinicalTrials.gov. The number changes weekly as new studies open and others close enrollment.
Do clinical trials in Sacramento pay participants?
Most recruiting trials in Sacramento compensate participants for their time, travel, and study visits. Compensation varies by sponsor, study phase, and visit requirements — the exact amount is disclosed by the study team during the informed consent process.
Who can participate in a clinical trial in Sacramento?
Eligibility depends on the specific study. Each trial defines its own inclusion criteria (age, diagnosis, medical history, prior treatments) and exclusion criteria. Both patients with specific conditions and healthy volunteers can qualify, depending on the study design.
What conditions are most commonly studied in Sacramento?
The most common conditions under active study in Sacramento include Breast Cancer (13), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (11), Heart Failure (11), Atopic Dermatitis (10), among many others. Browse the list above to explore every recruiting trial.
Are there clinical trials for healthy volunteers in Sacramento?
Yes. Healthy-volunteer studies — often early-phase pharmacology or vaccine trials — recruit in Sacramento on an ongoing basis. Use the "Healthy volunteers only" filter above to view trials that accept participants without the study's target condition.
How do I enroll in a clinical trial in Sacramento?
Click any study title above to see the full study record, including eligibility criteria, visit schedule, and the study team's contact information. Reach out to the central contact or recruiting site directly — they will guide you through screening and informed consent.
Where can I take part in paid clinical trials in Sacramento?
Recruiting research sites in Sacramento include University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Mercy Cancer Center - Sacramento, Sutter Medical Center Sacramento, among others. Each site lists its open studies and contact information on the study record above — call or email the site coordinator to ask about screening for a specific protocol.
What kinds of studies are recruiting in Sacramento right now?
The largest active categories in Sacramento are Cancer & tumors (213), Neurology & pain (35), Cardiovascular (28). Use the filters above to narrow by therapeutic area, phase, age, or healthy-volunteer eligibility.
What is the address of Sutter Medical Center Sacramento?
How do I contact Sutter Medical Center Sacramento?
You can reach Sutter Medical Center Sacramento by phone at (916) 453-5898. For questions about a specific trial, use the study coordinator contact listed on the individual study record — click any trial title above to open it.