Clinical Trials at VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA

About research studies in San Diego

San Diego has approximately 813 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 San Diego

• Heart Failure (15 active studies). Heart failure trials explore SGLT-2 inhibitors, novel myosin modulators, and device-based therapies for both reduced and preserved ejection fraction.
• Obesity (13 active studies). Obesity trials evaluate GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists, novel metabolic drugs, and combined lifestyle interventions for sustainable weight loss.
• Depression (12 active studies). Depression studies test rapid-acting antidepressants including ketamine derivatives, psilocybin-assisted therapy, and neuromodulation approaches.
• Major Depressive Disorder (11 active studies). Major depressive disorder research examines rapid-acting agents, augmentation strategies, and digital therapeutics for treatment-resistant cases.
• Schizophrenia (10 active studies). Schizophrenia research tests muscarinic agonists, long-acting injectable antipsychotics, and cognitive remediation therapies.
• Breast Cancer (9 active studies). Breast cancer trials evaluate new hormone therapies, targeted drugs, and immunotherapy combinations aimed at improving survival and reducing recurrence.

Leading research sponsors in San Diego

• University of California, San Diego
• San Diego State University
• VA Office of Research and Development
• National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• AstraZeneca

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 San Diego. 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 San Diego

Hipa.ai aggregates every recruiting study in San Diego 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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