Chapel Hill, NC Clinical Trials Report — June 2026

For Chapel Hill residents considering participation in clinical research, June 2026 presents a crucial window of opportunity, with numerous trials nearing their enrollment deadlines. A total of 53 clinical trials are slated to conclude within the next 90 days, making prompt action essential for interested individuals. Notably, 12 of these rapidly closing studies are still actively seeking healthy volunteers, offering a chance to contribute to medical advancements before their enrollment windows close.

Urgent Opportunities in Key Health Areas

Patients managing specific health conditions also face impending deadlines to join research. Trials focused on various conditions are among those with limited time remaining for enrollment. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Breast cancer (4 trials)
• Depression (3 trials)
• Anxiety (2 trials)
• Relapse (2 trials)
• Cancer (2 trials)
• Cystic fibrosis (2 trials)
• Anterior cruciate ligament injuries (2 trials)
• Anterior cruciate ligament injury (1 trial)
• Aortic aneurysm and dissection (1 trial)
• AML (1 trial)

New Research Opportunities Emerge

This month, Chapel Hill saw the opening of 10 new clinical trials, a decrease from the 14 trials that launched in May 2026. Despite this slight dip, the city continues to host a robust research environment, with 649 clinical trials currently recruiting across 202 research facilities. This ongoing activity underscores Chapel Hill's role as a vital hub for medical innovation in North Carolina.

June brings several notable new trials to Chapel Hill, including significant studies from major sponsors and academic institutions. These trials offer participants the chance to engage with cutting-edge treatments and diagnostic approaches across a range of health challenges:

• Novo Nordisk A/S is sponsoring a notable Phase 3 study, NCT07668414, "A Research Study Investigating How Well the Medicine Zenagamtide Helps People With Excess Body Weight Lose Weight Compared to Semaglutide." This trial aims for 650 participants to find out if zenagamtide is safe and effective for treating individuals with excess body weight compared to semaglutide.
• RTI International is leading NCT07625579, "Collaboration for Down Syndrome Progress (CDP)." This long-term study aims to enroll 1,400 participants to better understand the health, development, and everyday experiences of people with Down syndrome of all ages.
• The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill is sponsoring NCT07661433, "Prospective Evaluation of an AI Diagnostic Ultrasound Tool for Fetal Weight Estimation." This study seeks 1,000 pregnant individuals to assess the diagnostic accuracy of an AI-enabled ultrasound tool for estimating fetal weight.
• UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center is sponsoring NCT07630168, "Effects of Infusion Timing on Treatment Response in Solid Tumors." This Phase 2 study with 238 participants evaluates whether the time of day when immunotherapy is given affects clinical outcomes for patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
• Also from UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, NCT07664436, "Improving Affordability in Cancer Care Through Economic Screening and Support (I-ACCESS)," is a screening and referral program for 220 participants to proactively identify financial hardship in adult cancer patients and connect them with resources.
• The University of Wisconsin, Madison is sponsoring NCT07630428, "Testing STAR and TextSTAR: A Randomized Controlled Trial." This trial aims for 394 participants to learn whether a video and/or a 3-week text messaging intervention is effective at reducing mental health problems and substance misuse following sexual assault.

New trials this month are exploring a range of conditions, with the most frequent being lung cancer (2 trials), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (1 trial), acute lymphoid leukemia (1 trial), arthritis, psoriatic (1 trial), cancer (1 trial), chromosome disorders (1 trial), colitis, ulcerative (1 trial), Crohn disease (1 trial), Down syndrome (1 trial), and fetal weight (1 trial). Drug trials account for the largest share of new studies, with 5 new drug trials, followed by 3 behavioral studies.

Opportunities for Healthy Volunteers

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are significant opportunities to contribute to research. Of the 10 new trials launched this month, 1 is actively seeking healthy volunteers. Across Chapel Hill, a total of 73 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical research.

Chapel Hill's Leading Research Facilities

Chapel Hill is home to some of North Carolina's leading research institutions, which consistently run a high volume of clinical trials. These facilities are key destinations for individuals seeking to participate in medical research:

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (128 trials)
• UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (90 trials)
• University of North Carolina (88 trials)
• UNC Chapel Hill (16 trials)
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (16 trials)
• Research Site (14 trials)
• University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (12 trials)
• University of North Carolina Medical Center (11 trials)
• Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (10 trials)
• University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (9 trials)
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (8 trials)
• UNC Hospitals, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (7 trials)

The University of North Carolina system, including its various campuses and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, clearly dominates the research landscape in Chapel Hill, offering a broad spectrum of studies from oncology to general medicine.

Broadening Your Search: Nearby Options

While Chapel Hill offers a vast array of clinical trial opportunities, individuals may also find options in nearby communities within North Carolina. Cities with active trials include Durham (12 trials), Winston-Salem (9 trials), Charlotte (8 trials), Raleigh (7 trials), Greensboro (6 trials), Wilmington (6 trials), Morehead City (4 trials), and Statesville (3 trials).

Participation in clinical trials is open to a diverse range of individuals. Of the 10 new trials launched this month, 10 include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. Additionally, 2 new trials include children, and 3 are female-only. Academic institutions continue to play a vital role in Chapel Hill's research ecosystem, with UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (4 trials) and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1 trial) sponsoring a significant number of new studies. Industry sponsors like Novo Nordisk A/S (1 trial) and Janssen Research & Development, LLC (1 trial) are also driving important research efforts.

As we move through June, Chapel Hill's vibrant research community will continue to drive medical innovation, offering diverse opportunities for individuals to contribute to the future of healthcare.