Massachusetts Clinical Trials Report — April 2026

For Massachusetts residents considering participation in medical research, April 2026 presents a critical window of opportunity, particularly for those looking to join studies that are nearing their enrollment deadlines. A substantial 291 clinical trials are set to conclude enrollment within the next 90 days across the state. This urgency extends to healthy volunteers, with 62 of these rapidly closing studies actively seeking participants without specific health conditions. Individuals interested in contributing to medical advancements should explore these options promptly before they are no longer available.

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

• Major depressive disorder (7 trials)
• Healthy volunteers (7 trials)
• Depression (6 trials)
• Alzheimer disease (6 trials)
• Stroke (5 trials)
• Breast cancer (4 trials)
• Heart failure (4 trials)
• Mild cognitive impairment (4 trials)
• Chronic pain (4 trials)
• Dementia (4 trials)

Groundbreaking Research Launches: Pancreatic Cancer, Respiratory Health, and Behavioral Support

This month brings several high-profile new trials to Massachusetts, including significant Phase 3 studies from major pharmaceutical companies and leading academic institutions. These trials offer participants the chance to engage with cutting-edge treatments and diagnostic tools, addressing a range of health challenges from advanced cancers to chronic respiratory conditions and innovative behavioral health solutions.

• Incyte Corporation is sponsoring NCT07522073, a Phase 3 study evaluating chemotherapy with or without INCB161734 for previously untreated, KRAS G12D-Mutated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This important oncology trial seeks 588 participants, offering a new potential treatment avenue for a challenging cancer.
• The University of Massachusetts, Worcester is leading NCT07520110, a Phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Titled "Metformin to Attenuate Progressive Respiratory Decline in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis," this study aims to enroll 800 participants with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who are at high risk of adverse clinical outcomes.
• Massachusetts General Hospital is conducting NCT07527117, "Role of n On-contrast Chest CT (NCCT) Based CT V: Q in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism (aPE)." This research aims to determine if a CT scan without contrast dye can effectively detect pulmonary emboli, enrolling 750 participants.
• Outcome Referrals, Inc. is sponsoring NCT07519083, a "Behavioral Health Referrals Study." This Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial (SW-CRT) will evaluate Express Access, a new behavioral health referral application, aiming to improve primary care physician referrals to therapists for 600 participants.
• Okami Medical, Inc. is initiating the "Okami Medical ALPHA Registry," NCT07525518. This registry will provide insights into the real-world use, effectiveness, and safety of Okami Medical devices, involving 500 participants.
• The VA Office of Research and Development is launching NCT07507747, "Testing an Adaptive Intervention for Peer-Supported Mobile Health for Primary Care Veterans With Psychological Distress." This study aims to make mental health support more accessible for 384 Veterans experiencing conditions like depression, PTSD, anxiety, and sleep issues.
• The Jaeb Center for Health Research is sponsoring NCT07518134, "A Study of Uveitis in Children <18 Years of Age." This observational study will collect data on clinical features and treatments for uveitis in 300 children.
• Tufts Medical Center is investigating "Pulmonary Embolism and Right-to-Left Shunts" in NCT07519876. This study explores the connection between patent foramen ovale (PFO) and pulmonary embolism in 256 participants.

April's Research Landscape: New Opportunities and Geographic Reach

This month, Massachusetts saw the opening of 32 new clinical trials, a decrease from the 52 trials that launched in March 2026. Despite this dip, the state continues to offer a diverse array of research opportunities, with a total of 3,098 clinical trials currently recruiting across 94 cities and 1,118 research sites statewide.

The majority of new research initiatives this month are concentrated in the Boston metropolitan area, with 21 of the new trials opening in Boston itself. Other cities seeing new trial activity include:

• Worcester (4 trials)
• Malden (2 trials)
• Charlestown (1 trial)
• Framingham (1 trial)
• Bedford (1 trial)
• Needham (1 trial)
• Waltham (1 trial)
• Weymouth (1 trial)
• Cambridge (1 trial)

While new trial openings are heavily centralized in Boston, the overall research landscape remains broadly accessible across a wide range of cities in Massachusetts.

New studies are exploring a range of conditions, from rare diseases to common ailments. This month's new trials are targeting:

• Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (2 trials)
• Healthy volunteers (1 trial)
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (1 trial)
• Arterial bleed (1 trial)
• Asthma (1 trial)
• Atrial septal defects (1 trial)
• Biliary atresia (1 trial)
• Cardiac surgery subjects (1 trial)
• Coping (1 trial)

The types of interventions being studied are varied, with drug trials and behavioral interventions leading the way, each accounting for 9 of the new trials. Device-based studies represent 6 new trials, followed by other types (5), procedures (1), biologicals (1), combination products (1), and diagnostic tests (1).

Diverse Participation: Healthy Volunteers and Specific Demographics

Participation in clinical trials is open to a wide range of individuals. Of the 32 new trials launched this month, 20 include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. Additionally, 8 new trials are open to children, 2 studies are specifically designed for female participants, and 1 study is for male participants only.

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are significant opportunities to contribute. 5 of the new trials this month are actively seeking healthy volunteers. Across Massachusetts, a total of 393 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical research.

Academic institutions continue to play a vital role in Massachusetts's research ecosystem, with Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Massachusetts, Worcester, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute each sponsoring 3 of the new trials. Other notable academic sponsors include Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Cambridge Health Alliance, and Boston Children's Hospital. Industry sponsors, including Eli Lilly and Company and Incyte Corporation, are also driving significant research efforts, accounting for 9 of the new studies this month.

As we move further into spring, the focus will likely shift towards the ongoing enrollment in these significant Phase 2 and 3 trials, while researchers prepare for the next wave of innovative studies to address a broad spectrum of health challenges across Massachusetts.