Rhode Island Clinical Trials Report — April 2026

For Rhode Islanders considering participation in clinical research, April 2026 presents a critical moment, particularly for those looking to join studies with rapidly approaching enrollment deadlines. Across the state, 39 clinical trials are slated to close within the next 90 days. This urgency is especially relevant for healthy volunteers, as 8 of these time-sensitive studies are 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.

New Horizons in Health: Obesity, Weight Management, and Prostate Cancer Research

This month, Rhode Island welcomes 2 new clinical trials, offering fresh opportunities for participation. While this is a decrease from the 9 new trials that launched in March 2026, these new studies address significant health challenges and feature notable sponsors.

One of the most prominent new studies is the "MIST (Metabolic Intervention With Semaglutide and THR-β Therapy) Trial," NCT07505303. This Phase 2 study, sponsored by Eccogene, aims to enroll 160 participants. Its primary objective is to evaluate the effect of an oral investigational medicine, ECC4703, on body weight reduction. A sub-study will also assess its impact on liver fat content, as measured by MRI-PDFF at Week 20. This trial is particularly relevant for individuals managing adult obesity and seeking new weight management strategies.

The new trials are focused on:

• Adult obesity
• Metastatic prostate cancer
• Weight management

Both new trials are drug-based interventions and are sponsored by industry leaders: Eccogene and AstraZeneca. These studies represent important advancements in therapeutic development, bringing cutting-edge research directly to Rhode Island residents.

Act Now: Trials Nearing Their Close

Beyond the new opportunities, a significant number of trials are nearing their conclusion for enrollment. This means that interested participants have a limited window to join. Patients managing specific health conditions should pay close attention to the following areas, as trials in these fields are closing soon:

• Recurrent endometrial carcinoma (2 trials)
• Acute myeloid leukemia
• Alzheimer disease
• Advanced solid tumor
• Aggression childhood
• Alcohol use disorder
• Acute pain
• Anatomic stage II breast cancer AJCC V8
• Anatomic stage III breast cancer AJCC V8
• Arthritis

With 39 trials closing within the next 90 days, the opportunity to participate in these specific areas of research is rapidly diminishing. For those who meet the eligibility criteria, now is the time to inquire.

Rhode Island's Research Landscape: Accessibility and Opportunity

Rhode Island currently hosts a robust research environment with 490 clinical trials actively recruiting participants. These studies are spread across 15 cities and conducted at 193 research sites throughout the state, ensuring broad accessibility for residents.

This month's 2 new trials have opened in key locations: one in East Greenwich and one in Providence. Providence, as a major metropolitan hub, continues to be a central location for clinical research, while East Greenwich offers opportunities in a different part of the state.

Who Can Participate? Healthy Volunteers and Specific Demographics

Clinical trials are designed to include a diverse range of participants to ensure new treatments are effective for various populations. Of the 2 new trials launched this month, both include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. Notably, one of the new trials is specifically designed for male participants.

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are significant opportunities to contribute. 1 of the 2 new trials this month is actively seeking healthy volunteers. Statewide, a total of 61 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical research without having a particular diagnosis.

With 8 healthy volunteer trials closing soon, and 1 new opportunity this month, individuals without specific health conditions have a clear call to action if they wish to participate in medical research.

As we move further into spring, the focus will likely remain on the ongoing enrollment in these significant studies, while researchers prepare for the next wave of innovative trials to address a broad spectrum of health challenges across Rhode Island.