Chicago, IL Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

For Chicagoans exploring opportunities to contribute to medical research, May 2026 offers a dynamic landscape of clinical trials, with both urgent deadlines and significant new avenues for participation. Across Chicago, IL, a total of 2,004 clinical trials are actively recruiting participants at 683 research facilities.

Individuals considering trial participation should note that 159 trials are scheduled to conclude enrollment within the next 90 days. This window of opportunity is particularly relevant for healthy volunteers, as 26 of these trials are still seeking participants without specific health conditions. Acting swiftly can ensure you don't miss out on these opportunities to contribute to medical advancements.

Impending Deadlines for Key Health Areas

Patients managing specific health conditions also have limited time to join certain research studies. Trials focused on various conditions are nearing their enrollment deadlines, making prompt action essential. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Sickle cell disease (4 trials)
• Breast cancer (3 trials)
• Heart failure (3 trials)
• LSD (2 trials)
• Advance care planning (2 trials)
• Knee osteoarthritis (2 trials)
• ER positive breast cancer (2 trials)
• Atrial fibrillation (2 trials)
• Cholangiocarcinoma (2 trials)
• Depressive disorder, major (2 trials)

A Surge in New Research Opportunities

This month, Chicago saw a notable increase in new research, with 40 new clinical trials opening for enrollment. This marks a significant rise from the 16 new trials that launched in April 2026, indicating a robust expansion of research activity in the city.

May brings several high-profile new trials to Chicago, including significant Phase 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 sponsoring NCT07567001, a Phase 3 study titled "A Research Study to Look at How Well NNC0487-0111 Works Compared to Placebo in People With Heart Failure and Obesity." This large 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.
• Another Phase 3 study from Novo Nordisk A/S, NCT07564414, "A Research Study to Look at How Two Different Doses of CagriSema and One Dose of Semaglutide Help People Living With Obesity With or Without Type 2 Diabetes Lose Weight," is recruiting 2,500 participants. This study investigates the safety and effectiveness of CagriSema for weight loss in individuals with obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb is sponsoring NCT07571148, an observational study titled "Real-world Patient Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Healthcare Utilization Among KarXT Users." This study, involving 6,876 participants, uses existing health records to understand how KarXT, a medication for schizophrenia, is used in real-world practice.
• Abbott Medical Devices is leading NCT07586995, "A Post-Market Assessment of the Safety and Performance of the TriClip™ System." This observational study with 1,000 participants aims to confirm the safety and performance of the TriClip System for tricuspid TEER in a real-world setting.
• The University of Illinois at Chicago is sponsoring NCT07588542, "PACU Discharge Readiness," an observational study involving 1,000 participants. It evaluates the use of custom apps, neuropsychological testing, and clinical assessments to determine appropriate PACU discharge to home.
• Ohio State University is sponsoring NCT07567040, a Phase 3 trial titled "Delaying the Onset of Nearsightedness Until Treatment (DONUT) Clinical Trial." This study, involving 664 children, will test whether nightly atropine drops can delay the onset of nearsightedness.

New trials this month are exploring a range of conditions, with the most frequent being obesity (5 trials), overweight (3 trials), schizophrenia (2 trials), benign prostatic hyperplasia (2 trials), congenital heart disease (2 trials), and obstructive sleep apnoea (2 trials). Drug trials constitute the largest share of new studies, with 21 new drug trials, followed by 11 other types of studies and 5 device trials.

Opportunities for Healthy Volunteers

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are valuable opportunities to contribute to research. Of the 40 new trials launched this month, 7 are actively seeking healthy volunteers. Across Chicago, a total of 238 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical research.

Chicago's Leading Research Powerhouses

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

• Northwestern University (343 trials)
• University of Chicago (181 trials)
• Rush University Medical Center (138 trials)
• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (100 trials)
• University of Illinois (98 trials)
• University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center (96 trials)
• University of Chicago Medical Center (95 trials)
• Northwestern Memorial Hospital (81 trials)
• University of Illinois at Chicago (66 trials)
• Research Site (50 trials)
• Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (50 trials)

These institutions offer a broad spectrum of research, from pediatric care at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital to comprehensive medical and cancer research at Northwestern and the University of Chicago facilities.

Expanding Your Search: Nearby Options

While Chicago offers a vast array of clinical trial opportunities, individuals may also find options in nearby communities within Illinois. Cities with active trials include Grayslake (4 trials), Skokie (2 trials), Glenview (2 trials), Gillespie (1 trial), Gurnee (1 trial), Hazel Crest (1 trial), Hines (1 trial), and Lemont (1 trial).

Who Can Participate?

Participation in clinical trials is open to a diverse range of individuals. Of the 40 new trials launched this month, 36 include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. Additionally, 4 new trials include children, 3 are female-only, and 2 are male-only. Academic institutions continue to play a vital role in Chicago's research ecosystem, with Northwestern University (9 trials), University of Illinois at Chicago (4 trials), and University of Chicago (3 trials) sponsoring the most new studies. Industry sponsors like Novo Nordisk A/S (4 trials) and Eli Lilly and Company (2 trials) are also driving significant research efforts.

As we move further into spring, Chicago's robust research community will continue to drive medical innovation, offering diverse opportunities for individuals to contribute to the future of healthcare.