Charleston, SC Clinical Trials Report — April 2026

For Charleston residents considering clinical trial participation, April 2026 presents a critical window to join studies nearing their enrollment deadlines. Across the city, 58 trials are slated to conclude within the next 90 days, with 4 of these still actively seeking healthy volunteers. Individuals interested in contributing to medical advancements should explore these options promptly.

Upcoming Deadlines for Research Participation

Patients managing certain health conditions also face impending deadlines to join research. Trials focused on various conditions, including mental health and oncology, are among those with limited time remaining for enrollment. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Depression (4 trials)
• Cancer (3 trials)
• Cardiovascular diseases (2 trials)
• Stage IV lung cancer AJCC V8 (2 trials)
• Anesthesia induction (1 trial)
• Arrhythmia (1 trial)
• Alcoholism (1 trial)
• Bipolar I disorder (1 trial)
• Anatomic stage III breast cancer AJCC V8 (1 trial)
• Bipolar II disorder (1 trial)

This month, Charleston saw the opening of 6 new clinical trials, a slight increase from the 5 trials that launched in March 2026. Despite this modest number of new openings, the city continues to be a significant hub for medical research, with a total of 654 clinical trials currently recruiting across 194 research facilities.

Spotlight on New Research Opportunities

April brings several new trials to Charleston, including a notable study from a major sponsor focusing on adolescent well-being. These trials offer participants the chance to engage with cutting-edge treatments and diagnostic approaches across a range of health challenges.

• Carelon Research is sponsoring NCT07525843, "A Pragmatic Clinical Trial of the WE BEAT Well-Being Education Program in Adolescent Congenital Heart Disease: WE BEAT CHD Study." This study aims to understand if the WE BEAT program, a 5-week online well-being and skill-building program, can help teens with congenital heart disease improve their ability to handle stress. It is recruiting 390 participants.

New trials this month are primarily exploring conditions related to cognitive function, offering new avenues for research into brain health. Conditions addressed by these new studies include:

• Cognitive dysfunction (2 trials)
• Cognition disorders (1 trial)
• Cognitive complaint (1 trial)
• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (1 trial)
• Mild neurocognitive disorder (1 trial)
• Neurocognitive disorders (1 trial)
• Neurocognitive function (1 trial)
• Parkinson's disease (1 trial)
• Parkinson disease (1 trial)
• Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) (1 trial)

In terms of trial types, DEVICE trials lead with 3 new studies, followed by 2 BEHAVIORAL trials, and 1 DRUG trial. The Medical University of South Carolina is a prominent sponsor this month, leading 4 of the new trials, alongside Bial R&D Investments, S.A., and Carelon Research.

Opportunities for Healthy Volunteers

While none of the 6 new trials launched this month are accepting healthy volunteers, there are still significant opportunities for individuals without specific medical conditions to contribute to research in Charleston. A total of 57 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants across the city, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical advancements.

Charleston's Leading Research Institutions

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

• Medical University of South Carolina (360 trials)
• Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) (29 trials)
• Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC (17 trials)
• Research Site (16 trials)
• Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center (10 trials)
• Hollings Cancer Center (7 trials)
• Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System (7 trials)
• Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center (5 trials)
• MUSC (5 trials)
• MUSC Hollings Cancer Center (4 trials)
• Medical University of South Carolina University Hospital (4 trials)
• Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital (4 trials)

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and its various specialized centers, including the Hollings Cancer Center and Children's Hospital, are clearly the dominant force in Charleston's research landscape, offering a broad spectrum of studies. The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center also plays a crucial role, providing opportunities for veterans to participate in research.

Broadening Your Search: Nearby Options in South Carolina

While Charleston offers a robust array of clinical trial opportunities, individuals may also find options in other communities within South Carolina. Cities with active trials include Columbia, Greenville, Rock Hill, and Spartanburg, each with 1 trial currently recruiting.

Participation in clinical trials is open to a diverse range of individuals. Of the 6 new trials launched this month, 3 include children, and 4 are designed to include older adults, ensuring that various age groups have opportunities to contribute to medical science. Academic institutions, particularly the Medical University of South Carolina, continue to play a vital role in Charleston's research ecosystem, sponsoring the majority of new trials this month. Industry sponsors like Bial R&D Investments, S.A. and Carelon Research are also driving significant research efforts.

As we move further into spring, the focus will remain on advancing research in cognitive health and adolescent well-being, with Charleston's dedicated research community continuing to contribute to medical innovation.