Paid Clinical Trials in West Des Moines, IA
As of June 2026, 122 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 Heart Failure, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, 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: .
Trials by specialty in West Des Moines
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West Des Moines has approximately 122 recruiting research studies across a wide range of therapeutic areas. Iowa hosts a diverse network of universities, academic medical centers, and community hospitals that run clinical trials across oncology, cardiology, neurology, and many other therapeutic areas.
Top Research Study Locations in West Des Moines
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, Breast Cancer, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia | 42 |
| Methodist West Hospital | Extensive Stage Lung Small Cell Carcinoma, Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Brain, Stage IIIB Lung Cancer AJCC v8 | 21 |
| The Iowa Clinic PC | Anatomic Stage I Breast Cancer AJCC v8, Anatomic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8, Muscle Invasive Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma | 19 |
| Iowa Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center | Obesity, Overweight, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 | 12 |
| Wolfe Eye Clinic | Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Amblyopia, Diabetic Macular Edema | 6 |
| MercyOne Iowa Heart Center | Atrial Fibrillation, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 | 5 |
| The Iowa Clinic | COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Hallux Valgus | 4 |
| The Iowa Clinic, PC | Heart Failure, Refractory or Unexplained Chronic Cough | 3 |
| Wolfe Clinic, P.C.- West Des Moines | Diabetic Retinopathy, Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration, Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) | 3 |
| Akero Clinical Study Site | MASH - Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis, MASH With Fibrosis, NASH - Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis | 2 |
| Integrated Clinical Trial Services | Acute Treatment of Migraine, Pediatric Migraine | 2 |
| Iowa Diabetes Research | Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes | 2 |
| The Iowa Clinic West Des Moines Campus | Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Acne | 2 |
| Wolfe Eye Clinic - West Des Moines | AMD, CNV, Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration | 2 |
| Anthos Investigative | Atrial Fibrillation (AF) | 1 |
| Catholic Health Initiatives- Iowa Corp dba Iowa Heart | PFO - Patent Foramen Ovale, Stroke | 1 |
| Integrated Clinical Trial Services, LLC | Influenza | 1 |
| Iowa Clinic | Cancer | 1 |
| Iowa Diabetes and Endocrinology Center | Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus | 1 |
| Iowa Heart | Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation | 1 |
| Iowa Heart Center | Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Peripheral Endovascular Intervention | 1 |
| Iowa Heart Center (West Des Moines IA) | Tachyarrhythmia | 1 |
| Mercy Hospital Medical Center | Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Persistant Atrial Fibrillation | 1 |
| Mercy One Iowa Heart Center | Cryptogenic Stroke, Patent Foramen Ovale | 1 |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center | Coronary Artery Disease | 1 |
Active & Upcoming Studies in West Des Moines (2026)
Recruiting trials in West Des Moines grouped by therapeutic area, drawn from ClinicalTrials.gov. Each bucket shows the most recent example studies.
Cancer & tumors (52 active studies)
- Studying Chemotherapy With or Without Panitumumab for Unresectable, Locally Advanced, or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Without KRAS Mutations · Phase 3 · SWOG Cancer Research Network
- Testing Immunotherapy With or Without Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Patients With Advanced Liver Cancer, HELIO-RT Trial · Phase 3 · NRG Oncology
Diabetes & metabolic (14 active studies)
- 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 · Phase 3 · Novo Nordisk A/S
- A Study of Eloralintide (LY3841136) in Participants With Persistent Obesity Who Are Treated With a Weekly Incretin · Phase 3 · Eli Lilly and Company
Cardiovascular (14 active studies)
- A Global Study Comparing Pulsed Field Ablation With Electrographic Flow Mapping Versus Posterior Wall Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation · Boston Scientific Corporation
- Inclisiran Versus Placebo for the Prevention of Major Adverse Cardiovascular and Limb Events in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention or Peripheral Endovascular Intervention · Phase 4 · Duke University
Eye & vision (9 active studies)
- Study to Assess the Injection Burden, Adverse Events, Change in Disease Activity, and Long-Term Preservation of Visual Acuity of Surabgene Lomparvovec in Adult Participants With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (nAMD) · Phase 3 · AbbVie
- The Impact of Physiologic Cataract Surgery on Patient Comfort and Medication Usage · Matthew Rauen
Neurology & pain (5 active studies)
- The Fourth Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Study · Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
- Encore PFO Closure Device - The PerFOrm Trial · Encore Medical Inc.
Vaccines (1 active study)
- A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of CD388 for Prevention of Influenza · Phase 3 · Cidara Therapeutics Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. (Rahway, New Jersey USA)
Mental health & behavior (1 active study)
- Reaching Rural Cancer Survivors Who Smoke Using Text-Based Program · Phase 3 · Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
Pediatric (1 active study)
- Randomized Study in Children and Adolescents With Migraine: Acute Treatment · Phase 3 · Pfizer
Common conditions studied in West Des Moines
- Heart Failure (4 active studies). Heart failure trials explore SGLT-2 inhibitors, novel myosin modulators, and device-based therapies for both reduced and preserved ejection fraction.
- Obesity (4 active studies). Obesity trials evaluate GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists, novel metabolic drugs, and combined lifestyle interventions for sustainable weight loss.
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 (3 active studies). Diabetes trials evaluate new insulin formulations, GLP-1 receptor agonists, continuous glucose monitoring technologies, and disease-modifying therapies.
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (3 active studies). Diabetes trials evaluate new insulin formulations, GLP-1 receptor agonists, continuous glucose monitoring technologies, and disease-modifying therapies.
- Extensive Stage Lung Small Cell Carcinoma (3 active studies). Recruiting Extensive Stage Lung Small Cell Carcinoma studies evaluate investigational treatments, diagnostics, and supportive care approaches to improve patient outcomes.
- Malignant Solid Neoplasm (3 active studies). Recruiting Malignant Solid Neoplasm studies evaluate investigational treatments, diagnostics, and supportive care approaches to improve patient outcomes.
Leading research sponsors in West Des Moines
- SWOG Cancer Research Network
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- NRG Oncology
- Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
- ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group
Local regulations and guidelines
Clinical trials in Iowa 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. Iowa research additionally follows state public health department oversight and any applicable state privacy statutes.
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 West Des Moines. 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 West Des Moines
Hipa.ai aggregates every recruiting study in West Des Moines 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 West Des Moines?
There are approximately 122 recruiting clinical trials in West Des Moines, Iowa listed on ClinicalTrials.gov. The number changes weekly as new studies open and others close enrollment.
Do clinical trials in West Des Moines pay participants?
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.
Who can participate in a clinical trial in West Des Moines?
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 West Des Moines?
The most common conditions under active study in West Des Moines include Heart Failure (4), Obesity (4), Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 (3), Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (3), among many others. Browse the list above to explore every recruiting trial.
Are there clinical trials for healthy volunteers in West Des Moines?
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.
How do I enroll in a clinical trial in West Des Moines?
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 West Des Moines?
Recruiting research sites in West Des Moines include Mercy Medical Center-West Lakes, Methodist West Hospital, The Iowa Clinic PC, 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 West Des Moines right now?
The largest active categories in West Des Moines are Cancer & tumors (52), Diabetes & metabolic (14), Cardiovascular (14). Use the filters above to narrow by therapeutic area, phase, age, or healthy-volunteer eligibility.