Wisconsin Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

For Wisconsinites 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, 93 clinical trials are slated to close within the next 90 days. This urgency extends to healthy volunteers, with 16 of these rapidly closing studies 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.

Wisconsin currently hosts a robust research environment with 1,228 clinical trials actively recruiting across 86 cities and 644 research sites. This broad distribution ensures that opportunities are available not just in major metropolitan areas but also in a wide array of communities throughout the state.

Time is Running Out: Trials Closing Soon

The impending closure of nearly a hundred trials means that patients managing certain health conditions have limited time to enroll. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Breast cancer (5 trials)
• Stroke (2 trials)
• HER2-positive breast cancer (2 trials)
• Stage III pancreatic cancer AJCC v8 (2 trials)
• Triple negative breast cancer (2 trials)
• Advanced solid tumor (2 trials)
• Cholangiocarcinoma (2 trials)
• Myelodysplastic syndromes (2 trials)
• HER2-negative breast cancer (2 trials)

Beyond these specific conditions, 4 trials explicitly seeking healthy volunteers are also closing soon, presenting a direct call to action for individuals eager to contribute to medical science without having a particular diagnosis.

New Horizons in Wisconsin Research

This month, Wisconsin saw the launch of 6 new clinical trials. While this number is lower compared to previous months – down from 14 new trials in April and 24 in March 2026 – these new studies bring significant opportunities, particularly in areas like obesity, heart failure, and addiction recovery. Major sponsors are leading several of these initiatives, offering participants access to cutting-edge research.

Notable new trials opening this month include:

• Novo Nordisk A/S is sponsoring NCT07567001, a Phase 3 study titled "A Research Study to Look at How Well NNC0487-0111 Works Compared to Placebo in People With Heart Failure and Obesity." This substantial trial aims to enroll 5,610 participants globally, evaluating the safety and effect of NNC0487-0111 in individuals with Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) or Heart Failure with mildly reduced Ejection Fraction (HFmrEF) and excess body weight.
• Another significant Phase 3 study from Novo Nordisk A/S is NCT07564414, "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 seeks to enroll 2,500 participants to assess the safety and effectiveness of CagriSema for body weight loss in people with obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes.
• The Medical College of Wisconsin is leading NCT07572929, a Phase 2 pragmatic clinical trial titled "A Pragmatic Clinical Trial to Prevent Relapse for Myeloid Malignancies With Measurable Disease Prior to Allogeneic Transplant." This study aims to enroll 450 participants to determine whether measurable residual disease (MRD) guided assignment of maintenance therapy is effective in patients with myeloid malignancies undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.
• The University of Wisconsin, Madison is sponsoring NCT07573540, "Optimizing Smart Technology for Addiction Recovery." This study, aiming for 416 participants, seeks to develop a machine-learning guided recovery messaging system to improve health and address alcohol and substance use.

These new studies are exploring a range of conditions, with a focus on metabolic health and oncology. Conditions addressed by this month's new trials include:

• Obesity (2 trials)
• Alcohol use disorder (2 trials)
• Diabetes during pregnancy (1 trial)
• Heart failure (1 trial)
• Myelodysplastic syndromes (1 trial)
• Myeloid disorders (1 trial)
• Myeloproliferative neoplasm (1 trial)
• Acute myeloid leukemia (1 trial)

The majority of these new initiatives are drug trials, accounting for 4 of the new studies, alongside 2 device trials and other types of research.

Opportunities for Every Volunteer

For individuals without a specific medical condition, opportunities to contribute to research remain strong. 1 of the 6 new trials launched this month is actively seeking healthy volunteers. Statewide, a total of 136 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical research without a particular diagnosis.

Regarding specific demographics, 5 of the new trials this month include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. There is 1 female-only trial and 1 male-only trial among the new openings, while no new trials this month specifically include children.

Wisconsin's Research Footprint

This month's new research initiatives are primarily concentrated in Wisconsin's larger urban centers, with 3 new trials opening in Milwaukee and 2 in Madison. However, the geographic spread extends beyond these cities, with single new trials also launching in Green Bay, Marshfield, and Wausau. This distribution highlights a commitment to making clinical research accessible across various regions of the state, allowing more residents to participate close to home.

Looking ahead, the ongoing enrollment in these significant Phase 2 and 3 trials, particularly those from major industry sponsors like Novo Nordisk A/S and leading academic institutions such as the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, will continue to shape the landscape of medical advancements in Wisconsin. Residents are encouraged to explore these opportunities, especially those with impending deadlines, to contribute to the future of health and medicine.