Iowa City, IA Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

For Iowa City residents considering participation in clinical research, May 2026 brings both immediate opportunities and a notable increase in new studies. Across Iowa City, 543 clinical trials are currently recruiting participants at 116 research facilities, offering diverse avenues to contribute to medical advancements.

Act Now: Trials Nearing Their Close

Time is of the essence for those interested in trials with impending deadlines. A total of 33 clinical trials in Iowa City are scheduled to conclude enrollment within the next 90 days. This urgency is particularly relevant for healthy volunteers, as 7 of these rapidly closing studies are still actively seeking participants without specific health conditions.

Patients managing specific health conditions also have limited time to join certain research studies. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Endothelial dysfunction (2 trials)
• Carrier state (2 trials)
• Dementia (2 trials)
• Advanced breast cancer (1 trial)
• Asthma acute (1 trial)
• Breast neoplasm female (1 trial)
• Adverse childhood experience (1 trial)
• Care giving burden (1 trial)
• Chronic pain (1 trial)
• Controls (1 trial)

New Research Opportunities Emerge in Iowa City

This month marks a significant increase in new research, with 8 new clinical trials opening in Iowa City. This is double the number of new trials that launched in April 2026 (4 trials), indicating a growing research landscape.

May brings several notable new trials to Iowa City, including significant 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 prominent 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 large-scale 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 Duchenne Registry is sponsoring NCT07609394, "Duchenne Electronic Health Record Study." This study, involving 2,500 participants, aims to collect long-term data on patients with dystrophinopathy, including Duchenne, Becker, and female carriers, through electronic health record transfer.
• A local initiative led by Jill Kolesar, NCT07572773, "CHAMP Lung Cancer Screening Program," seeks 300 participants to address barriers to lung cancer screening in Iowa, despite recommendations for at-risk adults.
• AstraZeneca is behind NCT07571746, "A Study to Assess the Effect of Surovatamig in Adult Participants With Antibody-mediated Kidney Disease." This Phase 2 study involves 43 participants and will assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of surovatamig for primary membranous nephropathy.

New trials this month are exploring a range of conditions, including becker muscular dystrophy, duchenne muscular dystrophy (dmd), dystrophinopathy, early lung cancer detection, heart failure, and inflammatory bowel disease. Drug trials account for the largest share of new studies, with 4 new drug trials, followed by 2 other types of studies, 1 biological, 1 device, and 1 diagnostic test trial.

Healthy Volunteers: Current Opportunities

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are ongoing opportunities to contribute to research. While none of the 8 new trials launched this month are seeking healthy volunteers, a total of 60 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants in Iowa City. Remember, 7 of these healthy volunteer trials are closing within the next 90 days, so prompt action is encouraged.

Iowa City's Research Powerhouses

Iowa City is home to a robust research community, largely driven by the University of Iowa system, which consistently runs a high volume of clinical trials. These facilities are key destinations for individuals seeking to participate in medical research:

• University of Iowa (171 trials)
• University of Iowa/Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center (73 trials)
• University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (59 trials)
• University of Iowa Health Care (34 trials)
• University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics (21 trials)
• Research Site (15 trials)
• University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics (11 trials)
• University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital (8 trials)
• Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA (4 trials)

These institutions offer a broad spectrum of research, from oncology at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center to diverse medical fields across the various University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Expanding Your Search: Nearby Iowa Cities

While Iowa City offers extensive clinical trial opportunities, individuals may also find options in nearby communities within Iowa. Cities with active trials include Waterloo (3 trials), West Des Moines (2 trials), Davenport (1 trial), and Story City (1 trial).

Who Can Participate? Demographics of New Trials

Participation in clinical trials is open to a diverse range of individuals. Of the 8 new trials launched this month, 7 include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. Additionally, 2 new trials include children, and 1 is female-only. Academic institutions, particularly the University of Colorado, Denver, and Jill Kolesar, along with industry sponsors like AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, and Novo Nordisk A/S, are driving significant research efforts in the area.

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