United States Clinical Trials Report — March 2026

As March 2026 draws to a close, a significant number of clinical research opportunities across the United States are reaching their final enrollment stages. For patients and healthy volunteers considering participation, time is of the essence. Nationwide, 1,799 clinical trials are slated to close their doors to new participants within the next 90 days. This includes a substantial number of studies actively seeking healthy volunteers, with 542 such trials concluding their recruitment efforts soon. If you've been contemplating contributing to medical science without a specific health condition, now is a critical time to explore these options.

For individuals managing specific health challenges, several key areas of research are particularly affected by these upcoming closures. Studies focusing on mental health, neurological conditions, and chronic diseases are prominent among those with rapidly approaching deadlines. Conditions with a high number of trials closing soon include:

• Breast cancer
• Depression
• Alzheimer disease
• Stroke
• Obesity
• General cancer research
• Sleep disorders
• Mild cognitive impairment
• Anxiety

These closures represent a narrowing window for individuals with these conditions to access cutting-edge treatments and contribute to the understanding of their diseases.

New Opportunities for Healthy Volunteers and Diverse Participation

While some doors are closing, new ones are opening. This month, 697 new clinical trials began recruiting across the country. A notable portion of these, 195 to be exact, are actively seeking healthy volunteers. This brings the total number of trials recruiting healthy individuals nationwide to 5,294, offering ample opportunities for those without specific diagnoses to contribute to medical progress. These studies often focus on understanding normal body functions, testing preventive measures, or evaluating the safety of new interventions in healthy populations.

The landscape of new trials also reflects a commitment to inclusive research. This month, 110 new trials are open to children, expanding options for pediatric health. For older adults, 564 new studies are specifically designed to include this demographic, addressing health concerns prevalent in later life. Additionally, 56 trials are recruiting female-only participants, and 14 are seeking male-only volunteers, allowing for focused research on sex-specific health issues.

National Research Landscape: Trends and Major Initiatives

The pace of new trial openings saw a slight adjustment this month, with 697 new studies compared to 740 in February 2026. Despite this small shift, the overall volume of research remains robust, with 22,260 clinical trials actively recruiting across 2,756 cities and 43,579 research sites nationwide. Drug trials continue to lead the way, accounting for 227 of the new studies, followed by behavioral interventions and medical device evaluations. Academic institutions and other non-industry organizations are driving the majority of new research, sponsoring 491 trials compared to 185 from industry partners.

This month's new trials are targeting a wide array of health conditions. Leading the list of newly opened research areas are:

• Breast cancer
• Obesity
• General cancer research
• Trauma
• Prediabetes
• Multiple sclerosis
• Aging-related studies
• Heart failure
• Sleep disorders
• Pregnancy-related research

Several notable new trials stand out for their scale, sponsorship, or focus on critical public health issues:

• The University of Illinois at Chicago is sponsoring a massive study, NCT07498322, called the Chicago Data-driven Opioid use disorder Screening, Engagement, Treatment and Planning (C-DOSETaP) System. This trial aims to enroll 271,031 participants to test a new clinical care system for opioid use disorder.
• The National Minority Quality Forum has launched NCT07461493, "The Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative," an observational study with 100,000 participants. It seeks to establish a registry and biorepository to investigate health disparities, access, and barriers to cancer screening and early detection technologies.
• Mayo Clinic is leading NCT07455370, a descriptive study with 21,300 participants, examining levels of moral distress, moral injury, and post-traumatic stress among nursing staff. This research addresses critical issues impacting healthcare professionals.
• Novartis Pharmaceuticals, a major industry sponsor, is behind NCT07450157, an observational study of 6,448 prostate cancer patients. This research evaluates patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes for those treated with 177-Lutetium-Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen-617 (177Lu-PSMA-617).
• NYU Langone Health is sponsoring NCT07498504, "Understanding the Long-term Impact of COVID-19 in Adults," enrolling 5,205 participants to better comprehend the persistent physical, cognitive, and functional impairments associated with Long COVID.

Geographic Distribution: Where Research Thrives

Clinical trial activity is not evenly distributed across the nation. This month, certain states and metropolitan areas continue to be hotspots for new research. The top states for new trial openings are primarily concentrated on the coasts and in major population centers:

• California (117 new trials)
• Texas (94 new trials)
• Florida (84 new trials)
• New York (76 new trials)
• Massachusetts (56 new trials)
• Ohio (52 new trials)
• Pennsylvania (51 new trials)

These states, often home to leading academic medical centers and pharmaceutical companies, consistently lead in research volume. Following closely are Illinois (41), North Carolina (40), New Jersey (33), Michigan (32), Minnesota (31), Georgia (28), Tennessee (27), and Maryland (26).

At the city level, the concentration of new trials is even more pronounced, with major urban hubs driving a significant portion of the nation's research:

• New York, New York (51 new trials)
• Boston, Massachusetts (38 new trials)
• Houston, Texas (35 new trials)
• Los Angeles, California (33 new trials)
• Dallas, Texas (30 new trials)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (28 new trials)
• San Francisco, California (24 new trials)
• Chicago, Illinois (23 new trials)
• San Antonio, Texas (21 new trials)
• Miami, Florida (20 new trials)

While these cities offer a wealth of opportunities, individuals residing in less populated areas may find fewer local options. However, the vast network of 43,579 research sites across the country suggests that opportunities, though potentially requiring travel, are available beyond these primary urban centers.

As we move further into 2026, the clinical research landscape continues to evolve, balancing the urgent need for participants in closing studies with the exciting potential of newly launched initiatives. Staying informed about these trends is key to finding the right opportunity to contribute to the future of medicine.