Iowa Clinical Trials Report — July 2026

Iowa residents considering clinical research should act now if they match a study nearing its enrollment deadline: 30 recruiting trials are expected to close within the next 90 days. Four of those studies accept healthy volunteers, creating a limited window for people without a diagnosed condition. Statewide, 751 trials are recruiting across 30 cities and 280 research sites.

July brought 5 newly opened trials, down from 9 in May. Although the monthly pace has slowed from the 18 new trials recorded in February, Iowa continues to offer opportunities in genetics, cystic fibrosis, pediatric development, pregnancy, hair loss, and rare muscular disease. All five new studies list Iowa City as a location, making it the clear center of this month’s activity.

Closing trials create a narrow opportunity

People who may qualify for a closing study should begin the screening process promptly. Enrollment projections can change, and screening may require medical records, laboratory testing, genetic confirmation, or several visits. The conditions represented among Iowa’s closing-soon studies include both common research categories and highly specialized disorders.

• Carrier state — 2 closing-soon trials
• Acute myeloid leukemia — 1
• AML, including AML with mutated NPM1 — 2 combined listings
• Atrial tachycardia and atrial arrhythmia — 2 combined listings
• Adverse childhood experience — 1
• Cancer and acute leukemia — 2 combined listings
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease — 1

The four closing studies that accept healthy volunteers may be especially relevant to adults looking for paid or participation-based research outside of disease treatment. The available data do not identify the individual healthy-volunteer studies or their compensation, so prospective participants should review each listing carefully and contact the research site to confirm whether spots remain.

University of Iowa leads a month focused on development and pregnancy

The largest new study is the University of Iowa’s Perinatal Autism Genetics and Epigenetics Study, NCT07738003. Sponsored by the University of Iowa’s Center for Disabilities and Development, the study plans to enroll 7,200 participants. Researchers are examining how pregnancy, early childhood experiences, and genetic factors may influence child development, with a focus on autism spectrum disorder. Pregnant women are invited to participate in research that follows their pregnancy and related developmental factors.

The study is notable for its scale and for connecting prenatal health, genetics, and early development. Families and expectant parents should review the local eligibility requirements directly, since participation may involve information collected during pregnancy and follow-up over time.

Another substantial study is Rethinking Early Airway Clearance Therapies, NCT07696338, sponsored by Nicole Hamblett. The REACT trial includes two parallel randomized studies, one evaluating hypertonic saline and the other evaluating dornase alfa. It plans to enroll 405 participants with cystic fibrosis. The study addresses airway-clearance treatment in an era when highly effective modulator therapy has improved outcomes for many people with CF, but questions remain about how best to use additional therapies.

Pfizer and ML Bio Solutions open Phase 3 opportunities

Two new Phase 3 studies may attract people seeking trials backed by established sponsors. Pfizer is sponsoring NCT07733765, a study of ritlecitinib for moderate alopecia areata, a condition that causes patchy hair loss. The trial plans to enroll 336 young people and adults and is seeking participants age 12 and older when permitted by local regulators and ethics review. Researchers will evaluate the medicine’s safety and effects in moderate alopecia areata.

People with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2I/R9 may be eligible for ML Bio Solutions’ open-label extension study, NCT07678775. This Phase 3 study plans to enroll 107 participants who previously took part in the Fortify study, MLB-01-005. Participants will receive BBP-418, also called ribitol, while researchers evaluate long-term safety and efficacy. Because this is a rollover extension, eligibility is limited to people who participated in the earlier study.

• NCT07738003 — University of Iowa perinatal autism genetics and epigenetics study; planned enrollment of 7,200.
• NCT07696338 — REACT cystic fibrosis study of hypertonic saline and dornase alfa; planned enrollment of 405.
• NCT07733765 — Pfizer Phase 3 ritlecitinib study for moderate alopecia areata; planned enrollment of 336.
• NCT07678775 — ML Bio Solutions Phase 3 open-label extension of BBP-418 for LGMD2I/R9; planned enrollment of 107.

Across the five new studies, three are classified as drug trials, two as other interventions, one as behavioral research, and one as genetic research. The sponsor mix is divided between industry and academic or other organizations: two new trials are industry-sponsored, while three fall into the other sponsor category. Named sponsors include Pfizer, ML Bio Solutions, Inc., the University of Iowa, Anna Stanhewicz, PhD, and Nicole Hamblett.

Iowa City is the month’s only reported new-trial hub

Geographically, July’s new activity is highly concentrated. Iowa City accounts for all 5 newly opened trials, linking the month’s opportunities to the University of Iowa research system and its clinical facilities. The statewide recruiting total remains broader, however, with trials distributed among 30 cities and 280 research sites.

This concentration may be convenient for people in eastern Iowa and challenging for residents elsewhere in the state. A person living near Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, or another community should search the full statewide inventory rather than assume that July’s Iowa City listings represent every available option. Some established studies may continue recruiting at sites that did not open during the month.

Children, pregnant women, and healthy volunteers have specific openings

Eligibility patterns make several groups especially relevant this month. Four of the five new trials include children, while one is female-only and none are male-only. Two new trials include older adults. The perinatal study may be particularly relevant to pregnant women, while the alopecia areata study includes adolescents subject to local approval and eligibility requirements.

Healthy volunteers have 83 recruiting opportunities statewide overall. Two of July’s five new trials accept healthy volunteers, but the available data do not specify their conditions, locations beyond Iowa City, or whether they are currently full. Healthy adults should check eligibility promptly, especially for studies with short screening periods or limited cohorts.

People with acute myeloid leukemia, atrial rhythm disorders, carrier status, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, or other conditions represented in the closing-soon list should prioritize those searches before exploring newer studies. Families, pregnant women, adolescents with alopecia areata, people with cystic fibrosis, and individuals who previously participated in the Fortify study may also benefit from contacting Iowa City research teams now.

As August approaches, Iowa’s trial landscape may shift again: the six-month pattern has moved from 18 new trials in February to 4 projected for August. Prospective participants should monitor both newly posted studies and changing deadlines, because the most suitable opportunity may be available only briefly.