Chapel Hill, NC Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

For residents of Chapel Hill, NC, May 2026 brings a mix of urgent opportunities and promising new avenues for contributing to medical research. With 55 clinical trials slated to conclude within the next 90 days, prompt action is essential for interested individuals, especially as 13 of these rapidly closing studies are still actively seeking healthy volunteers.

Among the new research opportunities this month, a significant Phase 2 drug trial sponsored by AstraZeneca stands out. NCT07608354 is a study evaluating the efficacy and safety of concomitant use of eplontersen and ALXN2220 compared with eplontersen and placebo for adult participants with Transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study aims to enroll 326 participants, offering a chance to engage with cutting-edge treatments for a serious heart condition.

New Research Horizons in Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill saw the opening of 14 new clinical trials this month, an increase from the 11 trials that launched in April 2026. This brings the total number of actively recruiting clinical trials in Chapel Hill, NC, to 650 across 203 research facilities, highlighting the city's vibrant research landscape. This month's increase in new trials also marks a positive trend compared to the 11 new trials in March and 9 in February.

New trials this month are exploring a range of conditions, with notable studies in:

• Allergy
• Alpha-gal syndrome
• Asthma (diagnosis)
• Cancer
• Chronic cough
• Cigarettes
• Early risk screening for sleep disordered breathing in a dental setting
• Electronic cigarettes
• Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)

Drug trials account for the largest share of new studies, with 6 new drug trials, followed by 4 behavioral trials and 4 other types of studies, including diagnostic tests, devices, biologicals, and combination products.

Several other notable new trials are now recruiting in Chapel Hill:

• NCT07582536: "Optimization of Dietary Adherence in a Mobile Weight Loss Intervention" — Sponsored by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, this study aims for 580 participants to test components added to a 6-month mobile behavioral weight loss program to improve dietary adherence.
• NCT07588607: "Social Media Posts About Cancer: Five Timepoints" — Also sponsored by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, this trial with 294 participants evaluates the impact of user interface designs on intervening with cancer misinformation on social media.
• NCT07611435: "Beginning to Assess an Appropriate CONtrol for Oral Food Challenges in Alpha-Gal Syndrome (CoFAR-13) - BeACON4AG" — A Phase 2 study sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), this trial involves 160 participants and uses oral food challenges to characterize individuals with Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS).
• NCT07605949: "Revumenib, Azacitidine, and VENetoclax in Newly Diagnosed KMT2A-Rearranged AML" — This Phase 2 study, sponsored by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, is testing a new treatment combination called RAVEN in 88 participants with a specific type of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) called KMT2A- translocated AML.
• NCT07588568: "A Trial of Upadacitinib for Non-responsive Eosinophilic Esophagitis" — Sponsored by the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, this Phase 2 study with 52 participants investigates if upadacitinib can help treat Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE).

Opportunities for Healthy Volunteers

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are significant opportunities to contribute to research. Of the 14 new trials launched this month, 3 are actively seeking healthy volunteers. Across Chapel Hill, a total of 74 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical research.

Chapel Hill's Leading Research Facilities

Chapel Hill is home to prominent research institutions that consistently run a high volume of clinical trials. These facilities are key destinations for individuals seeking to participate in medical research:

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (130 trials)
• University of North Carolina (89 trials)
• UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (89 trials)
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (16 trials)
• UNC Chapel Hill (15 trials)
• Research Site (13 trials)
• University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (12 trials)
• University of North Carolina Medical Center (11 trials)
• Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (10 trials)
• University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (9 trials)
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (9 trials)
• UNC Hospitals, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (7 trials)

The University of North Carolina system, including its medical center and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, dominates the research landscape in Chapel Hill, offering a broad spectrum of studies across various medical fields.

Trials Closing Soon: Act Now

As mentioned, 55 trials are closing within the next 90 days. Patients managing specific health conditions also face impending deadlines to join research. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Breast cancer (5 trials)
• Depression (4 trials)
• Cancer (3 trials)
• Relapse (2 trials)
• Anterior cruciate ligament injuries (2 trials)
• Anxiety (2 trials)
• Ankle sprains (1 trial)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (1 trial)
• All, adult (1 trial)
• Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) (1 trial)

Broadening Your Search: Nearby Options

While Chapel Hill offers a robust array of clinical trial opportunities, individuals may also find options in nearby communities within North Carolina. Cities with active trials include Durham (12 trials), Winston-Salem (5 trials), Charlotte (4 trials), Wilmington (4 trials), Raleigh (4 trials), Greensboro (4 trials), Monroe (3 trials), and Morehead City (3 trials).

Participation in clinical trials is open to a diverse range of individuals. Of the 14 new trials launched this month, 10 include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. Additionally, 4 new trials include children. Academic institutions continue to play a vital role in Chapel Hill's research ecosystem, with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (6 trials) and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (4 trials) sponsoring the most new studies. Industry sponsors like AstraZeneca (1 trial) and Moonlight Therapeutics, Inc. (1 trial) are also driving significant research efforts.

As we move through May, Chapel Hill's dynamic research community will continue to drive medical innovation, offering diverse opportunities for individuals to contribute to the future of healthcare.