Paid Clinical Trials in Palo Alto, CA
As of July 2026, 659 paid clinical trials are recruiting in Palo Alto, California. Compensation typically covers time, travel, and study visits, with stipends ranging from modest amounts for short outpatient studies to several thousand dollars for long or inpatient protocols.
Palo Alto offers studies at sites including Stanford University for conditions such as Heart Failure, Breast Cancer, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Epilepsy. Both patients with specific conditions and healthy volunteers can qualify. Most trials offer free study-related medical care alongside compensation.
Recruiting trial data synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov. Last sync: .
Trials by specialty in Palo Alto
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Researchers run research studies in Palo Alto, CA at 25 active sites. The clinics below currently host the largest number of recruiting studies — each name is followed by the conditions they focus on most.
| Site | Specializes in | Active trials |
|---|---|---|
| Stanford University | Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Amblyopia, Chronic Pain | 162 |
| Stanford Cancer Institute Palo Alto | Anatomic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8, Anatomic Stage I Breast Cancer AJCC v8, Anatomic Stage IIIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8 | 35 |
| Stanford University Medical Center | Cystic Fibrosis, Prostate Cancer, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia | 29 |
| Lucile Packard Children's Hospital | Hematologic Diseases, Heart Failure, Pneumonia | 27 |
| VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA | Cancer, Homelessness, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic | 27 |
| Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford University | Acute Myeloid Leukemia, B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Ganglioneuroblastoma, Nodular | 23 |
| Stanford University School of Medicine | Epilepsy, Health Behavior, Lifestyle Intervention | 21 |
| VA Palo Alto Health Care System | Alcohol Use Disorder, Advanced Malignant Solid Neoplasm, Alcohol Abuse | 21 |
| Stanford Cancer Center | Advanced Solid Tumor, Breast Neoplasms, Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute | 21 |
| Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford | Surgery, Acute Kidney Injury, Acute Kidney Injury Due to Sepsis | 17 |
| Stanford Cancer Institute | Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma, Advanced Cancer | 17 |
| Palo Alto Medical Foundation Health Care | Anatomic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8, Anatomic Stage IIIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8, HER2-Negative Breast Carcinoma | 15 |
| Stanford | Epilepsy, Epilepsy (Treatment Refractory), AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia) | 11 |
| Stanford Neuroscience Health Center | Alzheimer's Disease, Amyloid, Becker Muscular Dystrophy | 9 |
| Stanford Hospital | Drug Liking, Angina Pectoris, Autoimmune | 7 |
| Stanford Medical Center | AML - Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Alzheimer Disease, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia | 7 |
| Byers Eye Institute | Glaucoma, Eye Disorders, Astigmatism | 6 |
| Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University | Glaucoma, Blindness, Eye Cancer | 6 |
| Stanford Women's Cancer Center | Breast Cancer, Advanced Breast Cancer, Breast Neoplasms | 6 |
| Lucille Packard Children's Hospital | Anesthesia, Local, Intubation Complication, Obesity, Morbid | 5 |
| Stanford Health Care | Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Ergonomics, Focal Epilepsy | 5 |
| Stanford University, School of Medicine | Liver Cancer, Adult, Lung Carcinoma, Lymphoma | 5 |
| Stanford Hospital and Clinics | Implant Based Breast Reconstruction, Chronic Ischemic Left Ventricular Dysfunction, Lymphedema Arm | 4 |
| Stanford Medicine | B-cell Malignancy, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 | 4 |
| Lucille Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University | Citrate Transporter Deficiency, Citrate Transporter Disorder, EIEE25 | 3 |
Active & Upcoming Studies in Palo Alto (2026)
Recruiting trials in Palo Alto grouped by therapeutic area, drawn from ClinicalTrials.gov. Each bucket shows the most recent example studies.
Cancer & tumors (194 active studies)
- The Effects of Cannabis on Post Operative Recovery After Radical Cystectomy · EARLY_Phase 1 · Stanford University
- Testing Whether Hormone Therapy With Ribociclib is as Effective as Chemotherapy Followed by Hormone Therapy With Ribociclib for the Treatment of High Anatomic Stage Breast Cancer With Low Recurrence Risk, The RxFINE-Low Trial · Phase 3 · National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Neurology & pain (45 active studies)
- Empowered Relief for Caregivers · Stanford University
- Smartshoes for Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease · Stanford University
Cardiovascular (35 active studies)
- The Effectiveness of Patch-Based Screening for Pre-Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation to Improve Patient Outcome · VA Office of Research and Development
- Personalized Blood Transfusion Protocol for Cardiac Patients · Yan Mia Min
Mental health & behavior (19 active studies)
- Homeless Overdose Prevention- Expansion · VA Office of Research and Development
- Rapid Acceleration Process for Intensive Treatment of PTSD in 5 Days · Phase 3 · VA Office of Research and Development
Diabetes & metabolic (16 active studies)
Eye & vision (16 active studies)
- Topical Insulin for Glaucoma (TING2) · Phase 1, Phase 2 · Stanford University
- Single-site Pilot Study Evaluating the Effect of QLS-111 Ophthalmic Solution on Posterior Perfusion and Vessel Dilation · Phase 2 · Qlaris Bio, Inc.
Pediatric (14 active studies)
- Supraglottic Airway for Resuscitation Trial · Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- GPC2-CAR T Cell Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory Medulloblastoma in Children and Young Adults · Phase 1 · Stanford University
Vaccines (7 active studies)
- Microbial and Cytokine Signatures in Long COVID Patients · Palo Alto Medical Foundation
- A Phase 3 Study of Revaccination in Subsequent Pregnancies With Bivalent RSV Vaccine and Duration of Protection of a Single Dose · Phase 3 · Pfizer
HIV / STI (2 active studies)
- Study of AHB-137 in Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) Participants in North America and Europe Regions · Phase 2 · AusperBio Therapeutics Inc.
- A Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of ALG-000184 Compared With Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Untreated HBeAg-Positive and HBeAg- Negative Adult Subjects With Chronic Hepatitis B (B-SUPREME) · Phase 2 · Aligos Therapeutics
Common conditions studied in Palo Alto
- Cancer (9 active studies)
- Heart Failure (8 active studies)
- Breast Cancer (7 active studies)
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (7 active studies)
- Epilepsy (7 active studies)
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (6 active studies)
Leading research sponsors in Palo Alto
- Stanford University
- VA Office of Research and Development
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Children's Oncology Group
- NRG Oncology
Frequently asked questions
How many paid clinical trials are currently recruiting in Palo Alto?
There are approximately 659 recruiting clinical trials in Palo Alto, California listed on ClinicalTrials.gov. The number changes weekly as new studies open and others close enrollment.
Do clinical trials in Palo Alto pay participants?
Most recruiting trials in Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto?
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 Palo Alto?
The most common conditions under active study in Palo Alto include Cancer (9), Heart Failure (8), Breast Cancer (7), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (7), among many others. Browse the list above to explore every recruiting trial.
Are there clinical trials for healthy volunteers in Palo Alto?
Yes. Healthy-volunteer studies — often early-phase pharmacology or vaccine trials — recruit in Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto?
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.
Where can I take part in paid clinical trials in Palo Alto?
Recruiting research sites in Palo Alto include Stanford University, Stanford Cancer Institute Palo Alto, Stanford University Medical Center, among others. Each site lists its open studies and contact information on the study record above — call or email the site coordinator to ask about screening for a specific protocol.
What kinds of studies are recruiting in Palo Alto right now?
The largest active categories in Palo Alto are Cancer & tumors (194), Neurology & pain (45), Cardiovascular (35). Use the filters above to narrow by therapeutic area, phase, age, or healthy-volunteer eligibility.