Bethesda, MD Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

For patients and healthy volunteers in Bethesda, MD, May 2026 presents a dynamic landscape of clinical research opportunities. With 844 clinical trials currently recruiting across 124 research facilities, there are numerous ways to contribute to medical science. This month, particular urgency surrounds trials nearing their enrollment deadlines, alongside exciting new studies opening their doors.

Act Now: Trials Closing Soon

A significant number of clinical trials in Bethesda are slated to conclude enrollment within the next 90 days. This offers a critical window for individuals considering participation. A total of 50 trials are closing soon, with 19 of these actively seeking healthy volunteers. This means individuals without specific health conditions have a chance to contribute to research before these opportunities pass.

Conditions with trials nearing their closing dates include:

• Normal physiology (2 trials)
• Lymphoma (2 trials)
• HIV (2 trials)
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (2 trials)
• Obesity (2 trials)
• Metastatic malignant solid neoplasm (2 trials)
• Cardiovascular disease (2 trials)
• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (2 trials)
• Anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (1 trial)
• Bacterial infections (1 trial)

New Research Opportunities Emerge in May

This month, Bethesda welcomed 10 new clinical trials, an increase from the 9 trials that opened in March 2026. These new studies span a variety of conditions and research types, offering fresh avenues for participation. Notably, 3 of these 10 new trials are accepting healthy volunteers, adding to the 284 total trials currently recruiting healthy participants in Bethesda.

Among the new trials, several stand out due to their sponsors, phase, or focus:

• The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences is sponsoring NCT07606651, "Blast Overpressure Longitudinal Study." This observational study aims to understand the impact of low-level blast exposure in U.S. Special Operations Forces personnel, particularly focusing on advanced brain imaging changes related to clinical presentation. It seeks 250 participants.
• The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is leading a Phase 3 study, NCT07613099, "Evaluation of Fibrotic Disease Activity in Cardiopulmonary Disorders Using 18F-Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor (18F-FAPI-74 PET/CT Imaging)." This study, targeting 210 participants, investigates a sensitive imaging technique to diagnose and monitor inflammatory and fibrosing cardiopulmonary disorders.
• The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring NCT07574541, a Phase 2 trial titled "Multitargeted Recombinant Ad5 PSA/MUC-1/Brachyury-Based Immunotherapy (TriAdeno) Vaccine With IL-15 Superagonist N-803 in Participants With Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer Undergoing Active Surveillance." This study, with 52 participants, explores a new immunotherapy approach for prostate cancer patients undergoing active monitoring.
• AstraZeneca has initiated a Phase 2 study, NCT07571746, "A Study to Assess the Effect of Surovatamig in Adult Participants With Antibody-mediated Kidney Disease." This trial, enrolling 43 participants, will assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of surovatamig in adults with primary membranous nephropathy.

New trials this month are exploring a variety of conditions, including acute lung injury, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, adenocarcinoma, ADHD, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, B-ALL, beta-thalassemia, carcinoma, cardiovascular diseases, and chin augmentation. Drug trials represent the largest category of new studies, with 6 new drug trials, followed by 2 biological trials, and 1 each for device, diagnostic test, other, and radiation studies.

Major sponsors for these new trials include the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) with 3 new studies, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) with 2, and single trials from Galderma R&D, AstraZeneca, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) collectively accounts for 7 of the new trials, demonstrating its significant research footprint in Bethesda.

Bethesda's Research Powerhouses

Bethesda is a national hub for medical research, largely due to the presence of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its various centers. These facilities consistently lead in the volume of clinical trials conducted, offering diverse opportunities for participants:

• National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (603 trials)
• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (65 trials)
• Research Site (14 trials)
• National Cancer Institute Developmental Therapeutics Clinic (12 trials)
• Suburban Hospital (10 trials)
• National Cancer Institute (7 trials)
• National Institutes of Health (7 trials)
• Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center (6 trials)
• National Institute of Health (5 trials)
• American Oncology Partners of Maryland, PA (5 trials)
• The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders (5 trials)
• National Cancer Institute (NCI) (3 trials)

The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center stands as the predominant research facility, reflecting Bethesda's unique role in federally funded medical research. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center also plays a crucial role, particularly in studies relevant to military health. Suburban Hospital and various National Cancer Institute clinics contribute significantly to the local research landscape.

Expanding Your Search: Nearby Options in Maryland

While Bethesda offers extensive trial opportunities, individuals in Maryland may also find suitable options in nearby cities. Other locations with active trials include Baltimore (17 trials), Rockville (3 trials), Lutherville (2 trials), Gaithersburg (1 trial), Germantown (1 trial), Hagerstown (1 trial), Hunt Valley (1 trial), and Pasadena (1 trial).

Who Can Participate? Eligibility at a Glance

Clinical trials in Bethesda are designed to be inclusive, seeking a broad range of participants. Of the 10 new trials launched this month, 8 include older adults, and 2 include children. While no new trials are female-only, 1 new trial is specifically for male participants. For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are currently 284 trials recruiting healthy volunteers in Bethesda, including 3 of the new trials this month.

As May progresses, Bethesda's vibrant research community continues to drive medical innovation, offering numerous ways for residents to contribute to the future of healthcare, whether by addressing urgent needs or exploring new frontiers in science.