Minnesota Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

For Minnesotans considering participation in clinical research, May 2026 presents a crucial window of opportunity, particularly for those looking to join studies that are nearing their enrollment deadlines. Across the state, a significant number of trials are concluding soon, making prompt action essential for interested individuals. Specifically, 151 clinical trials are slated to close within the next 90 days. This urgency extends to healthy volunteers, with 26 of these rapidly closing studies actively seeking participants without specific health conditions.

Patients managing certain health conditions also face impending deadlines to join research. Trials focused on conditions such as opioid use disorder, ulcerative colitis, and obesity are among those with limited time remaining for enrollment. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Opioid use disorder
• Ulcerative colitis
• Obesity
• Advanced breast cancer
• Parkinson disease
• Peripheral artery disease

If you are affected by one of these conditions, or are a healthy volunteer interested in contributing to medical advancements, we encourage you to explore these options promptly before they are no longer available.

Groundbreaking Trials Launching in Minnesota

This month brings several high-profile new trials to Minnesota, including significant Phase 2, 3, and 4 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 metabolic disorders to neurological conditions and vision impairments.

• Novo Nordisk A/S is sponsoring NCT07564414, a substantial Phase 3 study titled "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." This trial aims to enroll 2,500 participants globally, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of CagriSema for body weight loss in individuals with obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes.
• For healthy volunteers, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is leading NCT07562087, a Phase 2 study titled "A Study to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of TP-05 in Healthy Participants With Tick Exposure." This study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of TP05 administered orally to healthy adult participants, with a target of 700 participants. This is a prime opportunity for individuals without specific health conditions to contribute to research.
• Mayo Clinic is sponsoring NCT07572955, a study of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure. This research aims to examine shorter hospitalization lengths and reduced rates of recurrent heart failure hospitalization compared to current standard of care, involving 500 participants.
• Another significant trial from Mayo Clinic is NCT07570940, a Phase 4 study titled "A Study Of Stellate Ganglion Blockade With Liposomal Bupivacaine In Preventing Atrial Fibrillation After Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery." This study will assess the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in 450 patients receiving pre-surgical stellate ganglion blockade.
• Duke University is leading NCT07567794, the "GBPDC: Gut-Brain in PD Consortium Master Protocol." This study, involving 250 participants, aims to identify the role that the gut-brain axis plays in Parkinson's disease, with sponsorship from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
• Also from Mayo Clinic, NCT07565974 is a Phase 2 trial comparing THC versus THC/CBD versus placebo to improve sleep quality for patients with solid organ cancer and insomnia, enrolling 69 participants.

Minnesota's Evolving Research Landscape

This month, Minnesota saw the opening of 12 new clinical trials, a notable decrease compared to the 30 trials that launched in March 2026. This trend reflects a broader pattern, as the number of new trials has steadily declined over the past six months, from 45 in December 2025 to 12 this May. Despite this dip in new openings, the state continues to offer a broad array of research opportunities, with a total of 2,083 clinical trials currently recruiting across 71 cities and 729 research sites.

The majority of new research initiatives this month are concentrated in key metropolitan areas. Rochester leads with 7 new trials, followed by Minneapolis with 5, and Richfield with 1. This distribution highlights the continued importance of major medical centers and academic institutions in driving research within the state.

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

• Acute decompensated heart failure
• Astrocytoma
• Atrial fibrillation
• Cardiac surgery
• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
• Coronary artery disease
• Glioblastoma
• Gut microbiome
• Gut microbiota
• Insomnia

The types of interventions being studied are varied, with drug trials leading the way, accounting for 6 of the new trials. Other new studies include device trials (3), diagnostic tests (2), and procedures (2).

Who Can Join? Opportunities for Diverse Participants

Participation in clinical trials is open to a wide range of individuals. Of the 12 new trials launched this month, 11 include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. Additionally, 2 new trials are specifically designed for female-only participants.

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are significant opportunities to contribute. 2 of the new trials this month are actively seeking healthy volunteers. Across Minnesota, a total of 244 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 Minnesota's research ecosystem, with Mayo Clinic sponsoring 6 of the new trials. Other notable academic sponsors include Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota. Industry sponsors, including Novo Nordisk A/S, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and TearSolutions, Inc., are also driving significant research efforts, accounting for 3 of the new studies this month.

As we move through May, the focus will likely shift towards the ongoing enrollment in these significant Phase 2, 3, and 4 trials, while researchers prepare for the next wave of innovative studies to address a broad spectrum of health challenges across Minnesota.