Boston, MA Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

For individuals in Boston, MA, considering participation in clinical research, May 2026 offers a dynamic landscape of opportunities, including trials with rapidly approaching enrollment deadlines and a significant influx of new studies. The city currently hosts 2,648 actively recruiting clinical trials across 640 research facilities, making it a hub for medical innovation.

Act Now: Trials Closing Soon in Boston

Time is of the essence for many studies, as 213 clinical trials in Boston are scheduled to close within the next 90 days. This urgency presents a critical window for those interested in contributing to medical advancements. Notably, 43 of these rapidly closing trials are still seeking healthy volunteers, offering a chance to participate without a specific health condition before their enrollment periods conclude.

Patients with specific health conditions also have limited time to join research. Trials focused on various conditions are nearing their enrollment deadlines, including:

• Prostate cancer (7 trials)
• Breast cancer (4 trials)
• Stroke (4 trials)
• Adenoid cystic carcinoma (3 trials)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (3 trials)
• Advanced solid tumor (3 trials)
• Metastatic breast cancer (3 trials)
• Alzheimer disease (3 trials)
• Type 1 diabetes (3 trials)
• Chronic kidney diseases (2 trials)

New Research Opportunities Emerge This Month

Boston's research landscape continues to expand, with 50 new clinical trials opening this month. This marks an increase from the 36 new trials that launched in March 2026, indicating a growing pace of research activity. These new studies span a variety of medical fields and trial types.

Among the new trials, drug studies lead the way with 22 new investigations, followed by 10 behavioral studies and 8 other types of research. Device trials account for 6 new studies, while biological trials add 4 new opportunities. Diagnostic tests and procedures each contribute 2 new trials, and 1 new genetic trial has also opened.

New trials this month are exploring a range of conditions, with the most frequent being:

• Chronic heart failure (2 trials)
• Pru (platelet reactivity unit) (2 trials)
• Thromboelastography (teg) (2 trials)
• Breast cancer (2 trials)
• Major depressive disorder (2 trials)
• Thrombosis (2 trials)

Spotlight on Notable New Trials

May brings several high-profile new trials to Boston, including significant observational studies from major academic sponsors. These trials offer participants the chance to engage with cutting-edge research and contribute to a deeper understanding of health outcomes and disease prediction.

• Brigham and Women's Hospital is sponsoring NCT07610577, "Use and Costs of P2Y12 Inhibitors After Acute Myocardial Infarction." This large study aims to describe trends in the use and costs of specific medications (clopidogrel, ticagrelor, and prasugrel) in Germany and the United States.
• Also from Brigham and Women's Hospital, NCT07599384, "Emulation of the RECORD3 Trial Using Healthcare Claims Data," is part of an effort to build an evidence base for real-world data by replicating randomized controlled trials on a large scale.
• Another emulation study by Brigham and Women's Hospital is NCT07599293, "Emulation of the EMPEROR-Preserved Trial Using Healthcare Claims Data," which similarly aims to understand how real-world data analyses can be confidently conducted for various clinical questions.
• Furthering this research, Brigham and Women's Hospital also sponsors NCT07599345, "Emulation of the EMPEROR-Reduced Trial Using Healthcare Claims Data," contributing to the empirical evidence base for real-world data through large-scale trial emulation.
• Massachusetts General Hospital is leading NCT07600801, "LEGACY: Lung Cancer Screening in Individuals With a Lung Cancer Family History-Protocol B." This research seeks to determine if an image-based deep learning model can accurately predict future lung cancer risk using chest CT imaging in individuals with a family history of the disease.
• The University of Colorado, Denver is sponsoring NCT07569250, "Increasing CRC Screening in Community Health Centers Through Mobile Messaging Optimization." This interventional study aims to create and test a text message program to encourage at-home colorectal cancer screening and follow-up care within Community Health Centers.

Academic institutions are prominent sponsors of new trials this month, with Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital each sponsoring 8 new studies. Other key academic sponsors include Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, each with 2 new trials. Industry sponsors are also active, contributing 10 new trials to Boston's research portfolio.

Boston's Leading Research Facilities

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

• Massachusetts General Hospital (604 trials)
• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (326 trials)
• Brigham and Women's Hospital (307 trials)
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (267 trials)
• Boston Children's Hospital (223 trials)
• Dana Farber Cancer Institute (222 trials)
• Tufts Medical Center (112 trials)
• Boston Medical Center (98 trials)
• Research Site (64 trials)
• Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center (62 trials)

These institutions offer a broad spectrum of research, from comprehensive medical studies at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, to specialized oncology research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, and pediatric studies at Boston Children's Hospital.

Opportunities for Healthy Volunteers

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are numerous ways to contribute to research. Of the 50 new trials launched this month, 10 are actively seeking healthy volunteers. Overall, Boston currently has 317 clinical trials recruiting healthy participants, providing many avenues for those interested in supporting medical research.

Who Can Participate? Eligibility at a Glance

Clinical trial participation is open to a diverse range of individuals. Of the new trials launched this month, 43 include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. Additionally, 8 new trials include children, 5 are female-only, and 1 is male-only, reflecting a broad approach to participant eligibility.

Expanding Your Search: Nearby Massachusetts Cities

While Boston offers a vast array of clinical trial opportunities, individuals may also find options in nearby communities within Massachusetts. Cities with active trials include Waltham (4 trials), Charlestown (3 trials), Fall River (2 trials), Belmont (2 trials), Chestnut Hill (1 trial), Foxborough (1 trial), Lowell (1 trial), and Melrose (1 trial).

As we move through May, Boston's vibrant research community will continue to drive medical innovation, offering diverse and impactful opportunities for individuals to contribute to the future of healthcare and scientific discovery.