Paid Clinical Trials in California
California has 6,389 paid clinical trials enrolling now across cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. Search by condition, age, or phase to find compensated research studies accepting participants near you.
Research sites in California include Stanford Medicine, UCLA Health and UCSF, running studies across oncology, cardiology, neurology, and more. The most actively recruiting conditions are Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Obesity, Colorectal Cancer — browse the full list or use the filters to match your diagnosis. Both patients and healthy volunteers may qualify. Most studies offer compensation for time and travel.
Recruiting trial data synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov. Last sync: .
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Newly added in California
Posted to ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 60 days — these studies are just starting to recruit.
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A Study in Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
An Open-label Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Dato-DXd + Rilvegostomig vs SoC in Adult Participants With High-risk MIUC
Supporting Mental Health and Reducing Care Stress in Caregivers of Persons With Cardiovascular Disease
A Study to Characterize the Safety and Immunogenicity of AZD6489 in Participants 60 Years of Age and Older (ARIES)
5,291 clinical trials
↓ Download CSVA Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Elismetrep (K-304) in the Acute Treatment of Migraine
Study to Learn About Safety, Tolerability, and Immune Response of a Catch-up Pneumococcal Vaccine in Children and Adolescents
A Research Study Comparing How Well Different Doses of the Medicine UBT251 Lower Blood Sugar in People With Type 2 Diabetes
A Study to Learn About How a New Pneumococcal Vaccine Works in Infants.
A Study to Evaluate Efficacy, Safety, and Immunogenicity With ABP 938 8 mg Versus EYLEA® HD (Aflibercept) in Participants With Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration
A Study of Donanemab (LY3002813) in Participants Who Completed Study AACM (TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 3-EXT).
A Research Study to Look at How Well NNC0487-0111 Works Compared to Placebo in People With Heart Failure and Obesity
A Study to Evaluate TNX-102 SL Monotherapy Versus Placebo in Participants With Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
A Study of PF-08653945 and PF-08653944 in Adults With Overweight or Obesity (SOLIS-1)
A Study of Donanemab (LY3002813) in Participants With Early Cognitive Decline (TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 7)
A Study to Investigate Weight Management With Macupatide and Eloralintide, Alone or in Combination, in Adult Participants With Obesity or Overweight
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
A Phase 3 Trial of DT120 for Major Depressive Disorder (Ascend)
A Study to Evaluate the Pharmacodynamics of a Combination of QCZ484 and Inclisiran in Participants With Hypertension and Concomitant Hypercholesterolemia
Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Switching From Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RA) to Maridebart Cafraglutide in Adults With Obesity or Overweight (MARITIME-SWITCH)
A Phase 2b Study of the Effects of Camoteskimab in Adults With Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis
A Study in People With Diabetic Macular Edema to Test How Well Different Doses of BI 3812465 Are Tolerated
A Clinical Trial of EYE201/MK-8748 in People With Macular Degeneration (MK-8748-003)
An Open Label Extension (OLE) Study (Following Completion of CTQJ230A12301) to Evaluate Long-term Safety and Tolerability of Pelacarsen (TQJ230)
HP-211 Safety and Proof of Concept Dose Ranging Study in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
A Study to See How Safe and Effective Alirocumab is When Given Weekly to Adult Participants Who Have Hypercholesterolemia
A Phase 2/3 Study of Brepocitinib in Adults With Lichen Planopilaris
Symbiotic-GU-06: A Study to Learn About PF-08634404 Alone or In Combination With Enfortumab Vedotin in Urothelial Cancer
A Study to Evaluate Chemotherapy With or Without INCB161734 in Previously Untreated, KRAS G12D-Mutated Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
A Study of Guselkumab Versus Risankizumab in Participants With Moderately to Severely Active Crohn's Disease
Multicenter Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of LB-102 in the Treatment of Adult Patients With BP1MDE.
A Trial to Investigate Safety, Exposure, and Efficacy of HU6 Compared With Placebo in Adult Participants With Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis (MASH)
COMO: A Phase 3 Randomized, Double-Masked Study Comparing the Efficacy of EYP-1901 Against Aflibercept in DME
A Clinical Trial of EYE201/MK-8748 in People With Macular Degeneration (MK-8748-002)
CAPRI: A Phase 3 Randomized, Double-Masked Study Comparing the Efficacy of EYP-1901 Against Aflibercept in DME
An Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of TSND-201 for the Treatment of PTSD (EMPOWER-1)
Efficacy and Safety of Oral KAI-7535 in Adult Participants Living With Obesity or Overweight With at Least 1 Weight-Related Comorbidity
Implementation Study of Lenacapavir Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention
A Study of Brenipatide in Adult Participants With Major Depressive Disorder
A Study of Nipocalimab in Adults With Moderate to Severe Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
A Study to Learn About the Study Medicine (PF-08653944) in People With Obesity or Overweight and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D)
LY4268989 in Adults With Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis
Symbiotic-GI-16: A Study to Learn About the Study Medicine Called PF-08634404 in Combination With Chemotherapy in Gastroesophageal Cancer
Efficacy and Safety Study of Ixoberogene Soroparvovec (Ixo-vec) in Participants With Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration (AQUARIUS)
Phase 2 Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of ANG003
About research studies in California
California has approximately 6,389 recruiting research studies across a wide range of therapeutic areas. California hosts a dense network of world-class research institutions, including UC San Diego Health, Stanford Medicine, UCLA Health, UCSF, City of Hope, and Scripps Research. The state's thriving biotech corridor and diverse patient population make it a national hub for both early-phase and late-phase clinical research.
Common conditions studied in California
- Breast Cancer (102 active studies). Breast cancer trials evaluate new hormone therapies, targeted drugs, and immunotherapy combinations aimed at improving survival and reducing recurrence.
- Prostate Cancer (85 active studies). Prostate cancer studies test next-generation hormone therapies, PARP inhibitors, and radioligand treatments for both localized and advanced disease.
- Obesity (71 active studies). Obesity trials evaluate GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists, novel metabolic drugs, and combined lifestyle interventions for sustainable weight loss.
- Colorectal Cancer (65 active studies). Colorectal cancer trials explore novel chemotherapy combinations, targeted agents, and immunotherapy for microsatellite-instability-high tumors.
- Cancer (58 active studies). Recruiting Cancer studies evaluate investigational treatments, diagnostics, and supportive care approaches to improve patient outcomes.
- Heart Failure (57 active studies). Heart failure trials explore SGLT-2 inhibitors, novel myosin modulators, and device-based therapies for both reduced and preserved ejection fraction.
Leading research sponsors in California
- Stanford University
- University of California, San Francisco
- City of Hope Medical Center
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of California, San Diego
Local regulations and guidelines
Clinical trials in California are governed by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) standards, and federal HIPAA privacy rules. Every study is reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to protect participant safety and ensure informed consent. In addition, California-specific protections such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) impose stringent data-privacy requirements on research involving California residents.
Compensation & what to expect
- How payment typically works
- Compensation is most often provided through reloadable electronic study cards or direct deposit, paid out per completed visit rather than as a lump sum. Amounts vary by the time required, the number of visits, and the study's complexity — overnight stays and inpatient pharmacology studies generally pay more than short outpatient surveys. The exact amount is disclosed in writing during informed consent before any visit.
- Healthy volunteers
- Healthy participants aged 18 and older can earn compensation by joining vaccine, pharmacology, and biomarker studies in California. These trials check how a new drug or vaccine behaves in healthy bodies before later-phase testing. Many sites maintain a healthy-volunteer registry so you hear about new opportunities first.
- What's included beyond payment
- Most trials cover study-related medical care at no cost — physical exams, lab work, imaging, the investigational treatment itself, and follow-up visits with the research team. Insurance is not required to participate. Free check-ups and access to specialists are common reasons participants return for additional studies.
- Travel and time
- Many sponsors reimburse travel, parking, mileage, and lost wages for visit days. Long-running studies and trials that require frequent visits often raise stipends accordingly. Ask the study coordinator for the visit schedule and reimbursement policy before you commit.
- Asking about compensation
- Compensation is set per protocol and per site, so figures are not published in trial registries. The fastest way to confirm payment for a specific study is to contact the recruiting site listed on the study record. Coordinators are accustomed to this question and will quote the per-visit and total amounts up front.
How to find a clinical trial in California
Hipa.ai aggregates every recruiting study in California from ClinicalTrials.gov and refreshes the list daily. Use the filters above to narrow by condition, facility, age, phase, or healthy-volunteer eligibility, then click any study title to view full details — eligibility criteria, intervention, location, and sponsor contact information. To enroll, reach out to the central study contact listed on the study detail page; the research coordinator will walk you through the screening process.
Frequently asked questions
How many paid clinical trials are currently recruiting in California?
There are approximately 6,389 recruiting clinical trials in California listed on ClinicalTrials.gov. The number changes weekly as new studies open and others close enrollment.
Do clinical trials in California pay participants?
Most recruiting trials in California compensate participants for their time, travel, and study visits. Compensation varies by sponsor, study phase, and visit requirements — the exact amount is disclosed by the study team during the informed consent process.
Who can participate in a clinical trial in California?
Eligibility depends on the specific study. Each trial defines its own inclusion criteria (age, diagnosis, medical history, prior treatments) and exclusion criteria. Both patients with specific conditions and healthy volunteers can qualify, depending on the study design.
What conditions are most commonly studied in California?
The most common conditions under active study in California include Breast Cancer (102), Prostate Cancer (85), Obesity (71), Colorectal Cancer (65), among many others. Browse the list above to explore every recruiting trial.
Are there clinical trials for healthy volunteers in California?
Yes. Healthy-volunteer studies — often early-phase pharmacology or vaccine trials — recruit in California on an ongoing basis. Use the "Healthy volunteers only" filter above to view trials that accept participants without the study's target condition.
How do I enroll in a clinical trial in California?
Click any study title above to see the full study record, including eligibility criteria, visit schedule, and the study team's contact information. Reach out to the central contact or recruiting site directly — they will guide you through screening and informed consent.