Palo Alto, CA Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

For residents of Palo Alto, CA, considering participation in clinical research, May 2026 brings both urgent opportunities and significant new avenues to contribute to medical science. With a number of studies nearing their enrollment deadlines, prompt action is essential for interested individuals.

A total of 42 clinical trials are slated to conclude within the next 90 days in Palo Alto. This urgency is particularly relevant for healthy volunteers, as 5 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 cancers and neurological conditions are among those with limited time remaining for enrollment. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Gastric cancer (2 trials)
• Leukemia (2 trials)
• Myelodysplastic syndromes (2 trials)
• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (1 trial)
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (1 trial)
• Advanced breast cancer (1 trial)
• Alcohol consumption (1 trial)
• ALS-frontotemporal dementia (1 trial)
• Alzheimer disease (1 trial)

New Research Opportunities Emerge in Palo Alto

This month, Palo Alto saw the opening of 12 new clinical trials, a notable increase from the 6 trials that launched in March 2026. This brings the total number of actively recruiting clinical trials in Palo Alto, CA, to 574 across 165 research facilities, underscoring the city's robust research landscape.

May brings several high-profile new trials to Palo Alto, including significant Phase 2 and 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.

• The Ohio State University is sponsoring a notable Phase 3 study, NCT07567040, "Delaying the Onset of Nearsightedness Until Treatment (DONUT) Clinical Trial." This trial aims for 664 participants to test whether the onset of nearsightedness is delayed in children randomized to nightly drops of 0.05% atropine in both eyes, compared to children receiving nightly placebo drops.
• Eli Lilly and Company is initiating NCT07589595, "A Study of Donanemab (LY3002813) in Participants With Early Cognitive Decline (TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 7)." This Phase 2 study, targeting 350 participants, evaluates whether treatment with donanemab slows the progression of cognitive and functional decline in individuals with early cognitive decline.
• Stanford University is sponsoring NCT07601061, "Simplifying Diet Tracking in a Digital Weight Loss Intervention." This study, involving 328 participants, compares two approaches for tracking dietary intake in a 12-month fully digital weight loss intervention: a simplified approach focusing on "Red Zone Foods" versus a detailed approach tracking all foods.
• Another Stanford University trial, NCT07594431, "Trial Comparing LATTICE Radiotherapy vs Moderately Dose-escalated Palliative Radiation for Patients With Metastases," is a Phase 2 randomized study with 80 participants. It compares 5-fraction LATTICE radiotherapy to moderately dose-escalated palliative radiation for patients with metastases.

New trials this month are exploring a range of conditions, with new studies opening for acute leukemia, aging, AL amyloidosis, amyloid, high blood pressure, childhood cancer, cognitive dysfunction, health behavior, and hypertension. Drug trials account for 4 of the new studies, followed by 3 behavioral trials, 1 biological trial, and 1 radiation trial.

Opportunities for Healthy Volunteers

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are significant opportunities to contribute to research. Of the 12 new trials launched this month, 2 are actively seeking healthy volunteers. Across Palo Alto, a total of 55 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical research, including the 5 trials closing soon.

Palo Alto's Leading Research Facilities

Palo Alto 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:

• Stanford University (134 trials)
• Stanford Cancer Institute Palo Alto (41 trials)
• Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford University (24 trials)
• Palo Alto Medical Foundation Health Care (24 trials)
• Stanford University Medical Center (22 trials)
• VA Palo Alto Health Care System (22 trials)
• Stanford Cancer Institute (20 trials)
• Stanford University School of Medicine (19 trials)
• Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (19 trials)
• Stanford Cancer Center (18 trials)

Stanford University and its affiliated entities, including its Cancer Institute and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, dominate the research landscape in Palo Alto, offering a broad spectrum of studies from oncology to pediatric care and general medicine.

Broadening Your Search: Nearby Options

While Palo Alto offers a substantial array of clinical trial opportunities, individuals may also find options in nearby communities within California. Cities with active trials include Los Angeles (31 trials), San Francisco (27 trials), Duarte (17 trials), Irvine (11 trials), San Diego (11 trials), La Jolla (8 trials), Stanford (7 trials), and Beverly Hills (6 trials).

Participation in clinical trials is open to a diverse range of individuals. Of the 12 new trials launched this month, 5 include children, and 8 include older adults, ensuring that these populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. Notably, there are no new female-only or male-only trials this month. Academic institutions, primarily Stanford University, continue to play a vital role in Palo Alto's research ecosystem, sponsoring 7 of the new studies. Industry sponsors like Eli Lilly and Company and other organizations are also driving significant research efforts.

As we move through May, Palo Alto's dynamic research community will continue to drive medical innovation, offering diverse opportunities for individuals to contribute to the future of healthcare and improve patient outcomes across a wide range of conditions.