Columbus, OH Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

For residents of Columbus, OH, May 2026 brings important opportunities to participate in clinical research, with a focus on trials nearing their enrollment deadlines and exciting new studies opening their doors. If you've been considering contributing to medical science, now is an excellent time to explore options, particularly those with limited time remaining.

A total of 76 clinical trials in Columbus are scheduled to conclude enrollment within the next 90 days. This urgency is especially relevant for healthy volunteers, as 10 of these rapidly closing studies are still actively seeking participants without specific health conditions. These trials offer a chance to contribute to medical advancements before their enrollment windows close.

Impending Deadlines for Key Health Areas

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

• Suicidal ideation (2 trials)
• Primary peritoneal cancer (2 trials)
• Stage IV lung cancer AJCC v8 (2 trials)
• Suicide, attempted (2 trials)
• PTSD (2 trials)
• Advance directives (1 trial)
• Advance care planning (1 trial)
• Adenovirus (1 trial)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (1 trial)
• Alopecia areata (AA) (1 trial)

New Research Opportunities Emerge in Columbus

This month, Columbus saw the opening of 25 new clinical trials, a significant increase from the 13 trials that launched in March 2026. This brings the total number of actively recruiting clinical trials in Columbus, OH, to 1,290 across 369 research facilities, underscoring the city's robust research landscape.

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

• The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center is sponsoring NCT07606287, "Studying the Workflow of the American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Program to Improve Clinical Outcomes in Older Adults Undergoing Surgery at the James Cancer Hospital." This study aims for 4,000 participants to examine how the ACS Geriatric Surgery Verification Program is implemented at the James Cancer Hospital to improve surgical care for adults age 65 and older.
• Also from the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, NCT07581041, "Studying the Impacts of Higher Taxes and Bans on Electronic Cigarettes to Improve Public Health," is a clinical trial involving 3,400 participants. It investigates whether higher taxes and bans on electronic cigarettes impact tobacco use among adolescents, young adults, and adults.
• The Ohio State University is initiating a notable Phase 3 study, NCT07567040, "Delaying the Onset of Nearsightedness Until Treatment (DONUT) Clinical Trial." This trial aims for 664 participants to test if nightly 0.05% atropine drops can delay the onset of nearsightedness in children compared to a placebo.
• A study sponsored by Brittany Willer, NCT07574476, "Fasting Time and Post-tonsillectomy Pain," is a prospective, observational study involving 350 participants. It seeks to determine the association between preoperative fasting duration and post-tonsillectomy pain scores in pediatric patients.

New trials this month are exploring a range of conditions, with the most frequent being tobacco-related carcinoma (2 trials), anatomic stage I breast cancer AJCC v8 (1 trial), cigarette smoking-related carcinoma (1 trial), anatomic stage III breast cancer AJCC v8 (1 trial), and anatomic stage IV breast cancer AJCC v8 (1 trial). Drug trials and behavioral studies each account for 9 new studies, followed by 10 other types of studies and 6 procedure trials.

Opportunities for Healthy Volunteers

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are significant opportunities to contribute to research. A total of 5 of the 25 new trials launched this month are actively seeking healthy volunteers. Across Columbus, a total of 101 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical research.

Columbus's Leading Research Facilities

Columbus is home to some of Ohio'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:

• Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (233 trials)
• Nationwide Children's Hospital (186 trials)
• The Ohio State University (130 trials)
• Ohio State University (122 trials)
• The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (67 trials)
• Riverside Methodist Hospital (44 trials)
• Grant Medical Center (38 trials)
• Doctors Hospital (36 trials)
• Research Site (32 trials)
• The Mark H Zangmeister Center (31 trials)
• Columbus Oncology and Hematology Associates Inc (30 trials)
• Mount Carmel East Hospital (30 trials)

These institutions offer a broad spectrum of research, from oncology at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and The Mark H Zangmeister Center, to pediatric care at Nationwide Children's Hospital, and diverse medical fields across The Ohio State University and its Wexner Medical Center.

Broadening Your Search: Nearby Options in Ohio

While Columbus offers a vast array of clinical trial opportunities, individuals may also find options in nearby communities within Ohio. Cities with active trials include Cleveland (18 trials), Cincinnati (9 trials), Maumee (3 trials), Dayton (3 trials), South Euclid (1 trial), Vandalia (1 trial), Beachwood (1 trial), and Westlake (1 trial).

Participation in clinical trials is open to a diverse range of individuals. Of the 25 new trials launched this month, 20 include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. Additionally, 5 new trials include children, and 3 are female-only. Academic institutions continue to play a vital role in Columbus's research ecosystem, with the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (8 trials) and Ohio State University (4 trials) sponsoring the most new studies. Industry sponsors like Genentech, Inc. (1 trial) and Grifols Biologicals, LLC (1 trial) are also driving significant research efforts.

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