This is a big library, and most people only need a few pieces of it. If you've landed here because someone mentioned a trial to you, you don't need to read about funding deadlines or GCP rules. If you're designing a study, you don't need a guide on what to tell your family. So instead of making you scroll, here are three starting points, depending on why you're here.
For scale: ClinicalTrials.gov held 604,566 registered studies on 28 September 2026, and 65,044 of them were recruiting. The guides below help you make sense of that number instead of drowning in it.
Start with what taking part actually involves, then the money and the fine print. Read these in order and you'll know what to ask.
The practical side: rights, red flags, what happens when things go wrong, and what happens when the study ends.
Less about joining, more about why studies stall and what's changing in how they're designed and regulated.
Most guides explain things. A few are built on numbers we pulled straight from the registry, with the method written out so you can check it: why trials stop and how long they take to die, which GLP-1 studies are really recruiting, how many healthy-volunteer studies are open, and where, how many 2026 start dates have actually happened, who funds research in 24 conditions and what the whole registry looks like by status.
Nothing here is medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Tell us at dev@clinicalmetric.com.
ClinicalMetric analysed every terminated and withdrawn study on ClinicalTrials.gov. Trials rarely die from science. 36.7% die because nobody enrolled — and academic centres fail three times more often than industry.
What happens when you report a side effect in a clinical trial? A guide to how adverse events are defined, graded by severity (CTCAE), judged for relatedness, and reported to the FDA and safety boards — and what your role is.
Why do clinical trials use randomization and blinding? A plain-language explanation of how random assignment and masking remove bias, what single- and double-blind mean, and what it means for you as a participant.
When a clinical trial closes, what happens next? A guide to post-trial drug access, open-label extensions, when and where results are published, safety follow-up, and your right to know the outcome.
A clear breakdown of clinical trial costs — what the sponsor pays for, what your insurance is legally required to cover under the ACA, what routine care means, and the hidden out-of-pocket expenses patients underestimate.
How expanded access (compassionate use) lets seriously ill patients obtain an investigational drug outside a clinical trial — who qualifies, how the FDA request works, what it costs, and how it differs from Right to Try.
Six bispecific antibodies are FDA-approved. Teclistamab shows 63% ORR in triple-class refractory myeloma. Glofitamab achieves complete responses in DLBCL. The solid tumor pipeline and what step-up dosing solved.
Insilico Medicine's INS018_055 is the first drug designed entirely by AI in Phase 2 clinical trials. What AI drug discovery actually means, what the data show, and where the realistic limits are.
Liquid biopsy has moved from exploratory biomarker to approved companion diagnostic and trial endpoint. The GALAXY MRD data, Grail PATHFINDER, and ctDNA-guided treatment in early breast cancer.
Amtagvi (lifileucel) became the first TIL therapy FDA-approved for melanoma in 2024. NK cell therapy from iPSC platforms enters Phase 2. What the C-144-01 data showed.
Tirzepatide achieved 22.5% weight loss. Retatrutide hit 24% in Phase 2. Oral GLP-1s are entering Phase 3. What the trial data actually show and what distinguishes each mechanism.
Pluvicto and Lutathera are approved. Actinium-225 alpha emitters are entering Phase 3. How targeted radiopharmaceuticals work, what the VISION and NETTER-1 data showed, and the 2026 pipeline.
Psilocybin has FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for treatment-resistant depression. The Phase 2b data from COMP360 and the Phase 3 design challenges that follow.
ADCs now have 13 FDA approvals across breast, lung, urothelial, and hematologic cancers. DESTINY-Breast04 redefined HER2-low. The 2026 pipeline targets 30+ new indications.
Casgevy made CRISPR a clinical reality in December 2023. A year later, the pipeline spans transthyretin amyloidosis, Duchenne, HIV, and cancer. What the data actually show.
CAR-T cell therapy has six FDA-approved products for hematologic cancers and complete response rates that were unimaginable a decade ago. The manufacturing problem, the solid tumor barrier, and the allogeneic next step.
Find recruiting cervical cancer clinical trials in 2026 — immunotherapy combinations, tisotumab vedotin studies, HPV therapeutic vaccines, and how to enroll in cervical cancer research.
Find recruiting insomnia clinical trials in 2026 — new non-benzodiazepine sleep medications, CBT-I studies, digital therapeutics, and how to join a sleep disorder research study.
A sponsor-side guide to selecting and managing contract research organizations (CROs) in 2026 — full-service vs. functional service providers, qualification criteria, oversight requirements under ICH E6(R3), and the metrics that predict CRO performance.
How wearable devices and digital health technologies are changing clinical trial endpoint measurement in 2026 — FDA's COA qualification framework, validated digital endpoints in Parkinson's, cardiology, and respiratory trials, and real-time safety signal detection.
A compliance-focused analysis of clinical trial data integrity requirements in 2026 — ALCOA+ principles, 21 CFR Part 11 and EU Annex 11 for electronic records, the most common FDA data integrity inspection findings, and corrective action frameworks.
How mRNA technology is being applied beyond COVID-19 in 2026 — active clinical trials in cancer, influenza, RSV, HIV, and rare metabolic diseases, with a breakdown of LNP delivery systems, immunogenicity data, and the FDA regulatory pathway.
Why patients drop out of clinical trials — phase-specific dropout benchmarks, the most common withdrawal reasons by condition type, and the retention interventions that show statistically significant impact in 2026.
A data-driven analysis of gene therapy clinical trials in 2026 — AAV vector selection, approved indications, FDA RMAT designation holders, manufacturing bottlenecks, and long-term follow-up requirements from CBER guidance.
How real-world evidence (RWE) and real-world data (RWD) are reshaping clinical development in 2026 — FDA's RWE framework, EHR-linked trials, natural history studies, and the regulatory threshold for RWE-supported approval.
A technical breakdown of adaptive clinical trial designs in 2026 — seamless Phase 2/3 transitions, response-adaptive randomization, master protocols, and the FDA/EMA regulatory framework for design modifications.
How artificial intelligence is transforming clinical data management in 2026 — from electronic data capture and risk-based monitoring to automated eTMF quality checks and real-time protocol deviation detection.
An analyst-level breakdown of clinical trial recruitment trends in 2026 — enrollment failure rates, protocol deviation patterns, digital screening tools, and site performance benchmarks from ClinicalTrials.gov data.
Complete guide to paid clinical trial participation. Phase 1 healthy volunteer studies pay $1,000–$10,000+. Learn compensation ranges, tax rules, and how to find legitimate paid trials.
Complete guide to Phase 3 clinical trials in 2026 — confirmatory trials, FDA registration, double-blind RCT design, success rates, access to pre-approval treatments, and how to enroll.
Complete guide to Phase 2 clinical trials in 2026 — what efficacy testing involves, Phase 2a vs 2b, enrollment sizes, success rates, compensation, and how to find recruiting Phase 2 studies.
NIH R03 and R21 small grant mechanisms are ideal for early-stage clinical researchers, pilot studies, and exploratory research. Awards range from $100,000 to $450,000 with deadlines in 2026..
NCI's community oncology programs — NCORP, NCORP Research Bases, and NCI Community Oncology Research Grants — are accepting applications with deadlines approaching in 2026..
BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) provides emergency and ongoing funding for medical countermeasures against biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological threats..
PCORI has opened new funding opportunities for Q2 2026 including Pragmatic Clinical Studies and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research. Awards range from $750,000 to $30M..
The NIH R01 standard due date for new clinical trial applications is June 5, 2026..
Why patient diversity in clinical trials is now a scientific necessity in 2026 — FDA/EMA mandates, Diversity Action Plans, community-based recruitment strategies, and the precision medicine outcome.
How decentralized clinical trials work in 2026 — the hybrid model, eConsent, direct-to-patient drug shipping, remote patient monitoring, and how DCTs improve recruitment and retention rates.
How the EU CTR 536/2014 works in 2026 — the CTIS unified portal, Reporting Member State model, tacit approval mechanism, transparency requirements, and practical compliance strategies for sponsors.
The E6(R3) GCP update for 2026 — Risk-Based Quality Management (RBQM), PI oversight in decentralized trials, ALCOA++ data integrity, and continuous compliance training requirements.
How Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) shapes rare disease clinical trials in 2026 — RNAi therapies, N-of-1 trial designs, Compassionate Use programs, and what participation offers patients.
What paid diabetes clinical trials offer in 2026 — compensation ranges by study type, HbA1c and BMI eligibility requirements, free CGMs, and the push toward an artificial pancreas.
The most significant FDA regulatory updates for clinical trials in 2026 — mandatory Diversity Action Plans, Real-World Evidence integration, Digital Health Technology requirements, and cybersecurity mandates.
How Alzheimer's treatment trials work in 2026 — biomarker screening, PET imaging, the study partner requirement, amyloid/tau-targeting therapies, and how to participate.
The evolution of precision oncology in 2026 — mRNA cancer vaccines, CAR-T refinements, bispecific antibodies, and what Phase 2/3 immunotherapy trials are prioritizing this year.
Endometrial cancer clinical trials in 2026 — pembrolizumab combinations, dostarlimab, mirvetuximab, lenvatinib, and new targeted therapies for advanced and recurrent uterine cancer.
Leukemia clinical trials in 2026 — venetoclax combinations for AML and CLL, CAR-T for ALL, BTK inhibitors, menin inhibitors for AML, and how patients access blood cancer research.
Atopic dermatitis clinical trials in 2026 — tralokinumab, lebrikizumab, nemolizumab for itch, JAK inhibitors, and next-generation biologics for moderate-to-severe eczema.
Guide to pediatric cancer clinical trials in 2026 — CAR-T cell therapy for childhood ALL, DIPG brain tumor immunotherapy, TRK inhibitors for NTRK fusion tumors, Children's Oncology Group (COG) studies, and how families navigate pediatric oncology trial enrollment.
Guide to addiction clinical trials in 2026 — NIDA CTN opioid treatment networks, psilocybin for alcohol use disorder Phase 3, GLP-1 agonists reducing cravings, ibogaine derivatives, extended-release naltrexone vs buprenorphine, and how patients enroll in substance use disorder research.
Guide to pancreatic cancer clinical trials in 2026 — KRAS G12D inhibitors, mRNA personalized cancer vaccines, CAR-T for solid tumors, combination immunotherapy approaches, and how patients with pancreatic cancer can find and enroll in recruiting studies.
Step-by-step patient guide to joining a clinical trial in 2026 — how to search ClinicalTrials.gov, understand eligibility, navigate screening, informed consent, and what to expect during participation.
Complete guide to Phase 1 clinical trials in 2026 — what first-in-human studies test, safety monitoring, dose escalation, who qualifies, what participants experience, and how to find Phase 1 opportunities.
Autoimmune disease clinical trials 2026 — rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, IBD, CAR-T cell therapy for remission, JAK inhibitors, bispecific antibodies, recruiting studies guide.
Complete guide to rare disease clinical trials in 2026 — orphan drug designations, gene therapy programs, N-of-1 and basket trial designs, NORD resources, and how patients with rare conditions find and join research.
Mental health clinical trials 2026 — depression, PTSD, anxiety, psychedelic therapy (ketamine, psilocybin, MDMA), TMS, new antidepressants, and how to enroll in psychiatric recruiting studies.
Long COVID clinical trials recruiting 2026 — RECOVER treatments, ME/CFS studies, brain fog therapies, viral persistence research, and how to enroll in post-COVID studies.
2026 heart disease clinical trials covering coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, GLP-1 cardioprotection, gene therapy, and how to find and enroll in cardiovascular studies.
neurology clinical trials in 2026 covering Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, MS, stroke, epilepsy, migraine, gene therapy advances, and how to find and join studies.
2026 diabetes and obesity clinical trials guide covering GLP-1 agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, triple agonists, oral weight loss drugs, and metabolic disease research enrolling patients.
Cancer clinical trials recruiting in 2026 — immunotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy, targeted therapy, KRAS inhibitors. How to find, qualify for, and enroll in oncology studies.
2026 gut microbiome clinical trials examining fecal microbiota transplant for C. diff and IBD, live biotherapeutic products, precision probiotics, and microbiome modulation in metabolic disease.
2026 cancer immunotherapy combination trials: PD-1/CTLA-4 dual blockade, LAG-3 inhibitors, bispecific antibodies, CAR-T combinations, and cancer vaccines paired with checkpoint inhibitors.
Key women's health clinical trials in 2026 covering endometriosis treatments, PCOS metabolic therapies, uterine fibroids, and reproductive endocrinology research advances.
2026 chronic pain clinical trials exploring Nav1.7 inhibitors, CGRP antagonists, spinal cord stimulation, low-dose naltrexone, and non-opioid analgesics for long-term pain management.
Explore 2026 thyroid cancer clinical trials targeting RET fusions, BRAF V600E, and radioiodine-refractory disease with selpercatinib, pralsetinib, and redifferentiation strategies.
A complete guide to clinical trial informed consent — what it covers, your right to withdraw, questions to ask before signing, and how it differs from standard care consent.
How placebo controls work in clinical trials — why placebos are used, blinding, double-blind design, the placebo effect, and the ethics of using placebo controls.
The latest bipolar disorder clinical trials in 2026 — zuranolone for bipolar depression, ketamine, digital phenotyping, and lithium alternatives.
The latest fibromyalgia clinical trials in 2026 — low-dose naltrexone, sodium oxybate, cannabidiol, and transcranial magnetic stimulation for fibromyalgia pain.
A guide to pediatric clinical trials in 2026 — special protections for children, pediatric rare disease trials, RSV prevention, childhood cancer research, and how parents navigate enrollment.
The latest sleep apnea clinical trials in 2026 — tirzepatide for OSA (SURMOUNT-OSA), hypoglossal nerve stimulators beyond Inspire, and combination drug therapy.
The latest schizophrenia clinical trials in 2026 — KarXT (xanomeline-trospium), muscarinic mechanism, cognitive impairment treatments, and targeting negative symptoms.
The latest atrial fibrillation clinical trials in 2026 — pulsed field ablation, CHAMPION-AF trial, factor XIa inhibitors, and LAA closure vs anticoagulation.
The latest sickle cell disease clinical trials in 2026 — lovotibeglogene autotemcel (Lyfgenia), exagamglogene autotemcel (Casgevy), voxelotor, and crizanlizumab.
The latest colorectal cancer clinical trials in 2026 — pembrolizumab for MSI-H CRC, KRAS G12C inhibitors, HER2-targeted therapy, and ctDNA-guided adjuvant therapy.
The latest ovarian cancer clinical trials in 2026 — PARP inhibitor maintenance, mirvetuximab soravtansine, IMGN853, and immunotherapy combinations for high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
The latest ALS clinical trials in 2026 — tofersen for SOD1-ALS, the ATLAS pre-symptomatic trial, stem cell approaches, and AI-driven biomarker tracking.
The latest migraine clinical trials in 2026 — CGRP monoclonal antibodies, gepants for prevention, cluster headache trials, and non-invasive nerve stimulation.
The latest psoriasis clinical trials in 2026 — deucravacitinib, bimekizumab, IL-23 biologics, and oral TYK2 inhibitors for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
The latest epilepsy clinical trials in 2026 — fenfluramine, cannabidiol, gene therapy for Dravet syndrome and TSC, and closed-loop neurostimulation for drug-resistant seizures.
Ulcerative colitis trials 2026 — latest FDA-approved biologics, new UC drugs (ozanimod, etrasimod, upadacitinib, mirikizumab), gut-selective therapies and recruiting studies for remission.
The latest lupus clinical trials in 2026 — anifrolumab expansion, CAR-T dramatic remissions in SLE, voclosporin for lupus nephritis, and emerging biologics.
The latest HIV clinical trials in 2026 — CAB+RPV long-acting injections, lenacapavir, broadly neutralizing antibodies for cure research, and mRNA HIV vaccines.
The latest stroke clinical trials in 2026 — tenecteplase vs alteplase, extended thrombolysis windows, neuroprotective drugs, and brain stimulation for recovery.
Anxiety disorder clinical trials in 2026 — new anxiolytics, psilocybin for GAD, digital CBT trials, and treatment-resistant anxiety studies recruiting patients.
Liver disease clinical trials in 2026 — resmetirom for MASH/NASH, thyroid hormone analogs, hepatitis B cure strategies, and how patients can find recruiting studies.
Asthma clinical trials in 2026 — tezepelumab, dupilumab, itepekimab for severe and eosinophilic asthma, and how patients can find recruiting studies.
Obesity clinical trials in 2026 — retatrutide, cagrilintide, oral GLP-1s, amycretin, and next-generation weight loss treatments actively recruiting participants.
Kidney disease clinical trials in 2026 — sparsentan for IgA nephropathy, SGLT2 inhibitors for CKD, complement inhibitors, and how patients with kidney disease can find recruiting studies.
PTSD clinical trials in 2026 — MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, stellate ganglion block, novel pharmacotherapies, and how veterans and civilians can find recruiting studies.
Best biologics for Crohn's disease in 2026: risankizumab, upadacitinib, mirikizumab, JAK inhibitors, FMT trials — plus how to find and join recruiting Crohn's studies.
COPD clinical trials in 2026 — dupilumab for eosinophilic COPD, itepekimab, new bronchodilators, and lung regeneration approaches actively recruiting patients.
Depression clinical trials in 2026 — ketamine infusions, psilocybin therapy, TMS, fast-acting antidepressants, and treatment-resistant depression studies recruiting patients.
Prostate cancer clinical trials in 2026 — PARP inhibitors for BRCA mutations, PSMA-targeted therapy, AR pathway drugs, and how to find recruiting studies.
Rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials in 2026 — next-generation biologics, TYK2 inhibitors, CAR-T for refractory RA, and how to find recruiting studies near you.
Lung cancer clinical trials in 2026 — EGFR, ALK, KRAS targeted therapies, immunotherapy combinations, and new early detection approaches actively recruiting patients.
Breast cancer clinical trials in 2026 — antibody-drug conjugates, immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer, HER2-low treatments, and how to find recruiting studies.
Multiple sclerosis clinical trials in 2026 — BTK inhibitors, remyelination therapies, stem cell trials for progressive MS, and how to find recruiting studies.
Latest Parkinson's disease clinical trials in 2026 — gene therapy, alpha-synuclein antibodies, GLP-1 neuroprotection, and how patients can find and join studies.
What are clinical trial eligibility criteria? Learn why trials include and exclude certain patients, how to read criteria, and what to do if you don't qualify.
Comparing oral and injectable clinical trials in 2026 — advantages of new oral medications for diabetes and obesity, bioavailability challenges, and patient preference data.
What are biomarker-driven clinical trials? Learn how genetic testing and biomarkers personalize treatment selection and eligibility in 2026 research.
How AI and decentralized (hybrid) trial designs are transforming clinical research in 2026 — remote participation, virtual visits, and what this means for patients.
Latest melanoma clinical trials in 2026 — CAR-T therapy breakthroughs, checkpoint inhibitor combinations, personalized cancer vaccines, and trial eligibility.
Discover 2026 diabetes clinical trial breakthroughs — oral GLP-1s, retatrutide triple agonist, once-weekly insulin, and how to find a diabetes trial.
Find recruiting heart failure clinical trials in 2026 — HFpEF and HFrEF studies, SGLT2 inhibitor trials, GLP-1 combinations, device therapies, and how to enroll near you.
How are clinical trial participants protected? Learn about safety monitoring boards, adverse event reporting, stopping rules, and participant rights.
How long do clinical trials last? A complete guide to Phase 1–4 trial durations, what each phase tests, and what the time commitment means for participants.
The latest Alzheimer's clinical trials in 2026 — disease-modifying treatments, GLP-1 drug trials, prevention studies, and how to find a trial for early-stage Alzheimer's.
How cancer immunotherapy trials work in 2026 — CAR-T cell therapy, checkpoint inhibitors, personalized mRNA cancer vaccines, and how patients can access these treatments.
Complete guide to GLP-1 clinical trials in 2026 — semaglutide, tirzepatide, oral GLP-1s, who qualifies, and how to find an open trial near you.
How the National Institutes of Health funds clinical research, which institutes run the most trials, the grant-to-trial pipeline, and how taxpayer-funded studies become approved treatments.
Understand all four clinical trial phases — what Phase 1, 2, 3, and 4 test, typical participant numbers, duration, safety risks at each stage, and what joining each phase means for you.
Step-by-step guide to searching for recruiting clinical trials — using ClinicalTrials.gov filters, eligibility criteria, location search, and tracking open studies for any condition.
Everything patients need to know about clinical trials — how they work, the four phases, informed consent, your rights, and how to decide if participation is right for you.
Editorial Notice: This article was reviewed by the ClinicalMetric editorial team. Clinical trial data changes frequently as trials progress, enroll, or close. Nothing on this site constitutes medical advice — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. To report an inaccuracy, contact dev@clinicalmetric.com.