Bethesda, MD Clinical Trials Report — April 2026

For individuals in Bethesda, MD, considering participation in clinical research, April 2026 presents a critical window to join studies before enrollment concludes. A total of 46 clinical trials are slated to close within the next 90 days across Bethesda. This urgency is particularly relevant for those without specific health conditions, as 16 of these rapidly concluding studies are still actively seeking healthy volunteers. Exploring these opportunities promptly is advisable for anyone looking to contribute to medical advancements.

Act Now: Trials Nearing Conclusion

Patients managing certain health conditions also have limited time to enroll in research studies. Trials focusing on various neurological, hematological, and pain conditions are among those with impending deadlines for participant recruitment. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Depression (2 trials)
• Sickle cell disease (2 trials)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (1 trial)
• B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (1 trial)
• Bacterial infections (1 trial)
• Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvftd) (1 trial)
• Brain injury traumatic mild (1 trial)
• Bladder pain syndrome (1 trial)
• C9orf72 (1 trial)
• CAD (1 trial)

Overall, Bethesda, MD, is a significant hub for medical research, with 846 clinical trials currently recruiting across 123 research facilities. This month saw the opening of 7 new trials, a slight increase from the 6 trials that launched in March 2026, indicating a steady pace of new research opportunities.

New Opportunities in Bethesda Research

April brings several notable new trials to Bethesda, offering participants the chance to engage with cutting-edge treatments and diagnostic approaches. These studies are sponsored by prominent national institutions, highlighting the city's role in federal research initiatives.

• The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring NCT07524550, "Stem Cell Transplantation for Participants With Germline RUNX1 Associated Blood Cancers." This Phase 2 study, aiming for 98 participants, investigates stem cell transplantation for blood cancers linked to inherited RUNX1 gene variants.
• The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is launching NCT07504601, "Investigating the Analgesic Potential of (2R,6R)-HNK in Acute Pain in Healthy Volunteers." This Phase 2 study, designed for 92 participants, seeks to identify non-addictive pain relief alternatives to opioids.
• The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is initiating NCT07511049, "Intravenous Brincidofovir as an Antiviral for Treatment of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy: A Pilot Study." This Phase 2 pilot study, involving 24 participants, explores a potential treatment for Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare and often fatal brain infection.

New trials this month are exploring a range of conditions, including:

• Acute pain
• Core binding factor alpha subunits
• End stage lung disease
• Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
• Extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma
• Healthy volunteers
• Hematologic neoplasms
• Jansen s metaphyseal chondrodysplasia
• Leukemia
• Lung transplant

The majority of new studies are drug trials, with 6 new drug trials, followed by 1 biological trial and 1 radiation trial. All 7 new trials are sponsored by NIH institutes, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Bethesda's Leading Research Hubs

Bethesda is home to some of the nation's most prominent research institutions, which consistently conduct a high volume of clinical trials. These facilities are key destinations for individuals seeking to participate in medical research:

• National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (604 trials)
• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (66 trials)
• Research Site (14 trials)
• National Cancer Institute Developmental Therapeutics Clinic (14 trials)
• Suburban Hospital (10 trials)
• National Cancer Institute (7 trials)
• National Institutes of Health (7 trials)
• American Oncology Partners of Maryland, PA (6 trials)
• Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center (6 trials)
• National Institute of Health (5 trials)
• The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders (5 trials)
• American Oncology Partners, PA (4 trials)

The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center stands out as the predominant research facility in Bethesda, hosting the vast majority of ongoing trials. This concentration of research activity underscores Bethesda's significant role in national and global medical advancements.

Expanding Your Search: Nearby Maryland Cities

While Bethesda offers a wealth of clinical trial opportunities, individuals may also find options in other communities across Maryland. Cities with active trials include:

• Baltimore (15 trials)
• Brooklyn (1 trial)
• Annapolis (1 trial)
• Glen Burnie (1 trial)
• Hunt Valley (1 trial)
• Towson (1 trial)
• Cumberland (1 trial)

These nearby locations provide additional avenues for those interested in contributing to medical research within the state.

Ongoing Healthy Volunteer Opportunities

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are numerous opportunities to contribute to medical science. As mentioned, 16 healthy volunteer trials are closing soon, requiring prompt action. Additionally, 2 of the 7 new trials launched this month are actively seeking healthy participants. In total, Bethesda currently has 286 clinical trials recruiting healthy volunteers, offering diverse ways to support research.

Participation in clinical trials is open to a diverse range of individuals. Of the 7 new trials launched this month, 2 include children and 6 include older adults, ensuring that various age groups have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. No new trials this month were exclusively for females or males.

As spring progresses, Bethesda's research community will continue to drive innovation, with a strong focus on both urgent enrollment needs and the launch of new, impactful studies, particularly those sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.