Charleston, SC Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

Charleston residents seeking to contribute to medical research have immediate opportunities this May, with 46 clinical trials slated to conclude enrollment within the next 90 days. For those without specific health conditions, 4 of these rapidly closing studies are still actively seeking healthy volunteers, offering a chance to participate in medical advancements before their enrollment windows close.

Urgent Opportunities: Trials Nearing Conclusion

Patients managing specific health conditions also have limited time to join research studies. Trials focused on various mental health conditions, cancers, and substance use disorders are among those with impending deadlines for enrollment. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Depression (4 trials)
• Cancer (3 trials)
• Head and neck cancer (2 trials)
• Substance use disorders (2 trials)
• Nicotine dependence (2 trials)
• Cannabis use (2 trials)

Other conditions with trials closing soon include anesthesia induction, alcoholism, advanced malignant neoplasm, and bipolar II disorder. Individuals interested in these areas should act quickly to explore eligibility.

New Research Horizons in Charleston

This month, Charleston saw the opening of 7 new clinical trials. While this is a slight decrease from the 9 trials that launched in March 2026, it adds to the city's robust research landscape, which currently features 653 actively recruiting clinical trials across 190 research facilities.

May brings several notable new trials to Charleston, including significant Phase 2 and 3 studies from major sponsors. These trials offer participants the chance to engage with cutting-edge treatments and diagnostic approaches across a range of health challenges:

• Novo Nordisk A/S is initiating a notable Phase 3 study, NCT07567001, "A Research Study to Look at How Well NNC0487-0111 Works Compared to Placebo in People With Heart Failure and Obesity." This trial aims for 5,610 participants to evaluate the safety and effect of NNC0487-0111 in individuals with Heart Failure with preserved or mildly reduced Ejection Fraction and excess body weight.
• The University of California, San Francisco is sponsoring NCT07579364, "Outcomes Tracking in Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis (UVFP) and Atrophy After Medialization Laryngeal Surgery." This observational study involves 500 participants and seeks to understand the long-term outcomes of Laryngeal Framework Surgery for vocal fold paralysis or atrophy.
• Carelon Research is leading two studies focused on congenital heart disease (CHD):
  • NCT07582848, "BOND: Direct Breastfeeding to Enhance Maternal and Infant Health in Congenital Heart Disease," aims to enhance direct breastfeeding rates among infants with CHD and understand its impact on child and parent well-being.
  • NCT07582861, "Prenatally-initiated Psychological Intervention for Mothers of Infants With Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)," is a randomized controlled trial comparing usual care to a prenatal, virtually administered psychological intervention called HeartGPS.
• Duke University is sponsoring NCT07567794, "GBPDC: Gut-Brain in PD Consortium Master Protocol." This study, involving 250 participants, aims to identify the role of the gut-brain axis in Parkinson's disease.
• Wake Forest University Health Sciences is behind the Phase 2 study NCT07560826, "The CATSINDO Trial - Clinical and Translational Study in Newly Diagnosed Osteosarcoma." This trial, with 46 participants, investigates if children, adolescents, and young adults with newly diagnosed high-grade osteosarcoma can be safely discharged from the hospital at slightly higher methotrexate blood levels after chemotherapy.

New trials this month are exploring a range of conditions, with the most frequent being congenital heart disease (2 trials), osteosarcoma (2 trials), and Parkinson's disease (2 trials). Other conditions include atrial fibrillation, gut microbiome, heart failure, and obesity. Drug trials account for 2 of the new studies, with 1 procedure trial and 3 other types of studies.

Opportunities for Healthy Volunteers

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are opportunities to contribute to research. 1 of the 7 new trials launched this month is actively seeking healthy volunteers. Overall, Charleston has 56 clinical trials currently recruiting healthy participants, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical research.

Charleston's Leading Research Facilities

Charleston is home to prominent research institutions that consistently run a high volume of clinical trials, making them key destinations for individuals seeking to participate in medical research. The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) system is a particularly active hub for research in the city.

• Medical University of South Carolina (359 trials)
• Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) (30 trials)
• Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC (17 trials)
• Research Site (17 trials)
• Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center (11 trials)
• Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System (7 trials)
• Hollings Cancer Center (7 trials)
• MUSC (6 trials)
• Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center (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)

These institutions offer a broad spectrum of research, from comprehensive medical studies at MUSC to specialized care and research at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and the Hollings Cancer Center.

Broadening Your Search: Nearby South Carolina Options

While Charleston offers a significant array of clinical trial opportunities, individuals may also find options in nearby communities within South Carolina. Cities with active trials include Greenville (3 trials), Columbia (3 trials), North Charleston (2 trials), Gaffney (2 trials), Simpsonville (1 trial), Anderson (1 trial), Spartanburg (1 trial), and Fort Mill (1 trial).

Participation in clinical trials is open to a diverse range of individuals. Of the 7 new trials launched this month, 6 include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. Additionally, 1 new trial includes children. Academic institutions continue to play a vital role in Charleston's research ecosystem, with Carelon Research (2 trials), Duke University (1 trial), Novo Nordisk A/S (1 trial), University of California, San Francisco (1 trial), University of Chicago (1 trial), and Wake Forest University Health Sciences (1 trial) sponsoring new studies.

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