Paid Clinical Trials in San Francisco, CA
As of June 2026, 1,431 paid clinical trials are recruiting in San Francisco, 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.
San Francisco offers studies at sites including University of California, San Francisco for conditions such as Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Heart Failure, HIV. 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 San Francisco
Filter results
0 clinical trials
·Clear filters·↓ Download CSVAbout research studies in San Francisco
San Francisco has approximately 1,431 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.
Top Research Study Locations in San Francisco
Researchers run research studies in San Francisco, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| University of California, San Francisco | Prostate Cancer, Glioblastoma, Parkinson Disease | 318 |
| University of California San Francisco | Breast Cancer, Heart Failure, Multiple Myeloma | 170 |
| Power Life Sciences | Acne, Anorexia, Anorexia Nervosa | 64 |
| UCSF Medical Center-Mission Bay | Recurrent Malignant Solid Neoplasm, B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Neuroblastoma | 44 |
| Kaiser Permanente-San Francisco | Stage IV Lung Cancer AJCC v8, Stage IIIB Lung Cancer AJCC v8, Breast Cancer | 38 |
| UCSF | Colorectal Cancer, Gastric Cancer, Tricuspid Valve Disease | 36 |
| UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center | Breast Cancer, Solid Tumor, Adult, Advanced Breast Cancer | 29 |
| California Pacific Medical Center-Pacific Campus | Anatomic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8, Intracranial Meningioma, Lung Non-Small Cell Carcinoma | 27 |
| Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital | Anatomic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8, Anatomic Stage III Breast Cancer AJCC v8, Cardiovascular Diseases | 27 |
| University of California | Aortic Valve Regurgitation, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Articular Cartilage | 21 |
| UCSF Medical Center | Heart Failure, Pulmonary Hypertension, Stroke | 20 |
| San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA | PTSD, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Aging | 18 |
| California Pacific Medical Center | Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Melanoma | 15 |
| UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital | 4H Syndrome, ADLD, AGS | 15 |
| University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) | Adenocarcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal, Advanced/Metastatic Cancer, Amyloid Cardiomyopathy | 15 |
| San Francisco General Hospital | HIV, HIV Infections, Intracerebral Hemorrhage | 12 |
| San Francisco VA Medical Center | Atopic Dermatitis, Eczema, Abdominal Compartment Syndrome | 11 |
| University of California San Francisco (UCSF) | Advanced Solid Tumors, Melanoma, Advanced Solid Tumor | 11 |
| San Francisco Research Institute | Women Health, Anxiety, Cognitive Decline | 10 |
| UCSF Medical Center-Parnassus | Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Myeloid Leukemia Arising From Previous Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, Acute Myeloid Leukemia Post Cytotoxic Therapy | 10 |
| University of California - San Francisco | Adult Spinal Deformity, Bladder Cancer, Diabetes | 10 |
| Alethios, Inc. | Beverage Intake, Caffeine, Healthy | 9 |
| University of California at San Francisco | Advanced Tumors, Aortic Valve Disease, Aortic Valve Stenosis | 9 |
| University of California San Francisco Medical Center | Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Cirrhosis, Colorectal Cancer | 8 |
| University of San Francisco | Cone Rod Dystrophy, Juvenile Macular Degeneration, Stargardt Disease | 7 |
Active & Upcoming Studies in San Francisco (2026)
Recruiting trials in San Francisco grouped by therapeutic area, drawn from ClinicalTrials.gov. Each bucket shows the most recent example studies.
Cancer & tumors (435 active studies)
- UCSF Biobank for Hereditary Cancers and Tumor-Associated Mutations · University of California, San Francisco
- Prenatal Transplantation for Fetuses With Fanconi Anemia · Phase 1, Phase 2 · Agnieszka Czechowicz
Cardiovascular (91 active studies)
- Naloxone for Opioid Associated Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest · Phase 2 · University of California, San Francisco
- Tiprelestat Versus Placebo When Added to Standard of Care for the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) · Phase 2 · Stanford University
Neurology & pain (79 active studies)
- Assessing Changes in Multi-parametric MRI in Patients With Acute Demyelinating Lesions Taking Clemastine Fumarate as a Myelin Repair Therapy · Phase 1, Phase 2 · University of California, San Francisco
- kTMP in Chronic Stroke · University of California, San Francisco
HIV / STI (50 active studies)
- Short-term Effects of Methamphetamine on Residual Latent HIV Disease Study · Phase 4 · University of California, San Francisco
- Small Trial of Alendronate Impact on the Reservoir of HIV · Phase 2 · National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Mental health & behavior (48 active studies)
- Facilitating Transition to Recommended PTSD Treatment · VA Office of Research and Development
- Evaluating the Impact of CONNECT in a Multilingual Population · University of California, San Francisco
Diabetes & metabolic (38 active studies)
- Safety and Efficacy of NA-931 and Tirzepatide in Adults Who Are Overweight or Obese · Phase 2 · Biomed Industries, Inc.
- Validation of a Body-Composition Segmentation Software on a Diverse Public CT Scan Cohort · Nucleo Research, Inc.
Pediatric (23 active studies)
- Building Relationship, Improving Dialogue, and Growing Empathy (BRIDGE): An Intervention to Support Decision Making for Critically Ill Children · Duke University
- Prenatal Transplantation for Fetuses With Fanconi Anemia · Phase 1, Phase 2 · Agnieszka Czechowicz
Eye & vision (21 active studies)
- Effect of Vision Centers on Access to Eye Care and Eye Health Outcomes · University of California, San Francisco
- Video Intervention to Improve Understanding of Diabetic Retinopathy at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center · University of California, San Francisco
Vaccines (14 active studies)
- Multiparametric [18F]F-AraG Imaging in Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) · EARLY_Phase 1 · University of California, Davis
- A Study to Assess Anktiva in Patients With Long Covid-19. · Phase 2 · ImmunityBio, Inc.
Common conditions studied in San Francisco
- Breast Cancer (27 active studies). Breast cancer trials evaluate new hormone therapies, targeted drugs, and immunotherapy combinations aimed at improving survival and reducing recurrence.
- Prostate Cancer (27 active studies). Prostate cancer studies test next-generation hormone therapies, PARP inhibitors, and radioligand treatments for both localized and advanced disease.
- Heart Failure (18 active studies). Heart failure trials explore SGLT-2 inhibitors, novel myosin modulators, and device-based therapies for both reduced and preserved ejection fraction.
- HIV (16 active studies). HIV trials investigate long-acting injectable antiretrovirals, broadly neutralizing antibodies, and cure-focused strategies.
- Cancer (15 active studies). Recruiting Cancer studies evaluate investigational treatments, diagnostics, and supportive care approaches to improve patient outcomes.
- Glioblastoma (15 active studies). Glioblastoma studies investigate tumor-treating fields, targeted small molecules, and immunotherapy combinations for this aggressive brain cancer.
Leading research sponsors in San Francisco
- University of California, San Francisco
- Power Life Sciences Inc.
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- AstraZeneca
- Children's Oncology Group
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 San Francisco. 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 San Francisco
Hipa.ai aggregates every recruiting study in San Francisco 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 San Francisco?
There are approximately 1,431 recruiting clinical trials in San Francisco, California listed on ClinicalTrials.gov. The number changes weekly as new studies open and others close enrollment.
Do clinical trials in San Francisco pay participants?
Most recruiting trials in San Francisco 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 San Francisco?
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 San Francisco?
The most common conditions under active study in San Francisco include Breast Cancer (27), Prostate Cancer (27), Heart Failure (18), HIV (16), among many others. Browse the list above to explore every recruiting trial.
Are there clinical trials for healthy volunteers in San Francisco?
Yes. Healthy-volunteer studies — often early-phase pharmacology or vaccine trials — recruit in San Francisco 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 San Francisco?
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 San Francisco?
Recruiting research sites in San Francisco include University of California, San Francisco, University of California San Francisco, Power Life Sciences, 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 San Francisco right now?
The largest active categories in San Francisco are Cancer & tumors (435), Cardiovascular (91), Neurology & pain (79). Use the filters above to narrow by therapeutic area, phase, age, or healthy-volunteer eligibility.