San Francisco, CA Clinical Trials Report — April 2026

For San Franciscans considering participation in clinical research, April 2026 presents a critical window for those looking to join studies before enrollment concludes. Across the city, 92 clinical trials are slated to close within the next 90 days. This urgency is particularly relevant for healthy volunteers, as 20 of these rapidly closing studies are still actively seeking participants without specific health conditions. Individuals interested in contributing to medical advancements should explore these options promptly.

Impending Deadlines for Specific Conditions

Patients managing certain 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:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (3 trials)
• Prostate Cancer (2 trials)
• Ovarian Cancer (2 trials)
• Solid Tumor (2 trials)
• Stage IV Lung Cancer AJCC V8 (2 trials)
• Solid Tumors (2 trials)
• Ewing Sarcoma (2 trials)
• Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (2 trials)
• Primary Peritoneal Cancer (2 trials)
• Advanced Lung Non-Small Cell Carcinoma (1 trial)

This month, San Francisco saw the opening of 21 new clinical trials, matching the 21 trials that launched in March 2026. Despite the consistent number of new openings, the city continues to be a vibrant hub for medical research, with a total of 1,178 clinical trials currently recruiting across 403 research facilities.

Spotlight on New Research Opportunities

April brings several high-profile new trials to San Francisco, 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.

• Novartis Pharmaceuticals is sponsoring NCT07517263, "An Open Label Extension (OLE) Study (Following Completion of CTQJ230A12301) to Evaluate Long-term Safety and Tolerability of Pelacarsen (TQJ230)." This Phase 3 open-label extension study, designed for 5,700 participants, will provide post-trial access to pelacarsen (TQJ230) for those who completed the double-blind parent study.
• Incyte Corporation is launching NCT07522073, "A Study to Evaluate Chemotherapy With or Without INCB161734 in Previously Untreated, KRAS G12D-Mutated Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma." This important Phase 3 oncology trial seeks 588 participants to evaluate the efficacy and safety of standard chemotherapy with or without INCB161734.
• PLT Health Solutions is sponsoring NCT07511088, "Decentralized Study to Evaluate a Dietary Supplement for Episodes of Mild Acute Stress in Healthy People." This decentralized, double-blinded, crossover study aims to test the efficacy of a supplement to reduce symptoms of acute stress or situational anxiety in 250 healthy volunteers.
• Westat is leading NCT07510048, "Combatting HIV Or Other STIs Early (CHOOSE) in an RCT of mHealth Tool Support." This Phase 2 project, involving 200 participants, aims to optimize and assess the efficacy and cost of the PrEP Choice integrated mHealth package on PrEP initiation and adherence among young people.
• The University of California, San Francisco is sponsoring NCT07513623, "Systemic and Topical Antiviral Control of Cytomegalovirus Anterior Uveitis: Treatment Outcomes - Trials I and II." This Phase 2 clinical trial, for 117 participants, compares antiviral treatment strategies for cytomegalovirus (CMV) anterior uveitis in immunocompetent adults.
• The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is sponsoring NCT07549503, "Early Signals of the Transition From Immune Quiescence to Activation in the Liver Allograft Microenvironment and in the Circulation." This Phase 2, multi-center, longitudinal study will determine the efficacy of 50 percent Immunosuppression (IS) reduction in 100 eligible participants.

New trials this month are exploring a range of conditions, including breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, digestive health, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Drug trials account for the majority of new studies, with 7 new drug trials, followed by 6 "OTHER" type trials and 5 dietary supplement trials.

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are significant opportunities to contribute. 9 of the new trials launched this month are actively seeking healthy volunteers. Across San Francisco, a total of 151 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical research.

San Francisco's Research Hubs

San Francisco 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:

• University of California, San Francisco (251 trials)
• University of California San Francisco (159 trials)
• UCSF Medical Center-Mission Bay (41 trials)
• Kaiser Permanente-San Francisco (38 trials)
• UCSF (32 trials)
• California Pacific Medical Center-Pacific Campus (28 trials)
• UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (26 trials)
• Research Site (25 trials)
• Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (21 trials)
• University of California (20 trials)

These institutions, particularly the various University of California, San Francisco entities, offer a broad spectrum of research, from oncology at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center to general medical fields at Kaiser Permanente and California Pacific Medical Center.

Broadening Your Search: Nearby Options

While San Francisco offers a vast array of clinical trial opportunities, individuals may also find options in nearby communities within California. Cities with active trials include Los Angeles (10 trials), San Diego (6 trials), Duarte (5 trials), Glendale (5 trials), Palo Alto (5 trials), La Jolla (4 trials), Los Alamitos (4 trials), and Santa Monica (3 trials).

Participation in clinical trials is open to a diverse range of individuals. Of the 21 new trials launched this month, 15 include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. Additionally, 4 new trials include children, 1 is female-only, and 1 is male-only. Academic institutions continue to play a vital role in San Francisco's research ecosystem, with the University of California, San Francisco sponsoring 7 of the new trials. Industry sponsors like Incyte Corporation and Jazz Pharmaceuticals, along with federal agencies such as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), are also driving significant research efforts.

As we move further into spring, the focus will remain on the ongoing enrollment in these significant Phase 2 and 3 trials and the continued exploration of new therapeutic strategies, with San Francisco's robust research community at the forefront of medical innovation.