As of September 2026, 86 paid clinical trials are recruiting in West Des Moines, Iowa. 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.
West Des Moines offers studies at sites including Mercy Medical Center-West Lakes for conditions such as Overweight, Heart Failure, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2. 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: .
Posted to ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 60 days — these studies are just starting to recruit.
Researchers run research studies in West Des Moines, IA 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mercy Medical Center-West Lakes | Malignant Solid Neoplasm, Plasma Cell Myeloma, RISS Stage I Plasma Cell Myeloma | 29 |
| The Iowa Clinic PC | Anatomic Stage I Breast Cancer AJCC v8, Anatomic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8, Muscle Invasive Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma | 18 |
| Iowa Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center | Overweight, Obesity, Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) | 11 |
| MercyOne Iowa Heart Center | Atrial Fibrillation, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 | 5 |
| Methodist West Hospital | Acral Lentiginous Melanoma, Clinical Stage IV Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v8, Malignant Solid Neoplasm | 5 |
| Wolfe Eye Clinic | Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Amblyopia | 3 |
| Akero Clinical Study Site | MASH - Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis, MASH With Fibrosis, NASH - Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis | 2 |
| Integrated Clinical Trials Solution | Acute Migraine, Migraine | 2 |
| The Iowa Clinic, PC | Heart Failure | 2 |
| The Iowa Clinic West Des Moines Campus | Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Acne | 2 |
| Anthos Investigative | Atrial Fibrillation (AF) | 1 |
| Catholic Health Initiatives- Iowa Corp dba Iowa Heart | PFO - Patent Foramen Ovale, Stroke | 1 |
| Eximia Research - IA, LLC (dba Integrated Clinical Trial Services, LLC) | Pneumococcal Disease | 1 |
| Integrated Clinical Trial Services | Pediatric Migraine | 1 |
| Integrated Clinical Trial Services, Inc. | Acute Treatment of Migraine | 1 |
| Iowa Clinic | Cancer | 1 |
| Iowa Diab & Endo Res Center | Cardiovascular Risk, Type 2 Diabetes | 1 |
| Iowa Diabetes & Endo Res Ctr | Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 | 1 |
| Iowa Diabetes Research | Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Obesity, Overweight | 1 |
| Iowa Heart Center | Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Peripheral Endovascular Intervention | 1 |
| Iowa Heart Center (West Des Moines IA) | Tachyarrhythmia | 1 |
| Mercy One Iowa Heart Center | Cryptogenic Stroke, Patent Foramen Ovale | 1 |
| MercyOne Iowa Heart | Diastolic Heart Failure, Heart Failure, Heart Failure With Mid Range Ejection Fraction | 1 |
| Surgery Center of Des Moines West | Lumbar Spinal Stenosis | 1 |
| The Iowa Clinic | COPD | 1 |
Recruiting trials in West Des Moines grouped by therapeutic area, drawn from ClinicalTrials.gov. Each bucket shows the most recent example studies.
There are approximately 86 recruiting clinical trials in West Des Moines, Iowa listed on ClinicalTrials.gov. The number changes weekly as new studies open and others close enrollment.
Most recruiting trials in West Des Moines 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.
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.
The most common conditions under active study in West Des Moines include Overweight (5), Heart Failure (4), Obesity (4), Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (3), among many others. Browse the list above to explore every recruiting trial.
Yes. Healthy-volunteer studies — often early-phase pharmacology or vaccine trials — recruit in West Des Moines on an ongoing basis. Use the "Healthy volunteers only" filter above to view trials that accept participants without the study's target condition.
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.
Recruiting research sites in West Des Moines include Mercy Medical Center-West Lakes, The Iowa Clinic PC, Iowa Diabetes and Endocrinology Research 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.
The largest active categories in West Des Moines are Cancer & tumors (32), Diabetes & metabolic (12), Cardiovascular (10). Use the filters above to narrow by therapeutic area, phase, age, or healthy-volunteer eligibility.