Palo Alto, CA Clinical Trials Report — July 2026

Palo Alto participants should act quickly if they match a study involving ovarian cancer, autism, atopic dermatitis, advanced solid tumors, or child and adolescent behavior. 32 recruiting trials are expected to close within the next 90 days, including 5 that accept healthy volunteers. The city currently has 580 recruiting trials across 163 research facilities.

July brought 10 new studies, down from 12 in June and 13 in May. Enrollment dates can change, and studies may fill before their projected closing window, so people interested in a closing trial should contact the research site promptly.

Closing-soon studies span cancer, children, and behavioral health

Ovarian cancer is the most frequent closing-soon condition, with 2 trials. Other affected areas include:

• Adolescent behavior and child behavior
• Atopic dermatitis
• Autism and high-functioning autism spectrum disorder
• Advanced solid tumors
• Social behavior
• Brain and nervous system conditions
• Child development

Five of the closing-soon studies accept healthy volunteers. Across Palo Alto, 55 recruiting trials are open to healthy participants, although eligibility may depend on age, medical history, medications, and study-specific screening. People without a diagnosed condition who are interested in research should search now rather than waiting for a trial’s final weeks.

Stanford sites provide the city’s largest research concentration

Stanford University is the leading local research organization, with 135 recruiting trials. Stanford-affiliated cancer and pediatric facilities also account for substantial activity, giving patients access to oncology, pediatrics, neurology, behavioral health, respiratory medicine, and other specialties.

• Stanford University (135 trials)
• Stanford Cancer Institute Palo Alto (40 trials)
• Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford University (24 trials)
• Palo Alto Medical Foundation Health Care (23 trials)
• VA Palo Alto Health Care System (23 trials)
• Stanford University Medical Center (23 trials)
• Stanford Cancer Institute (21 trials)
• Stanford Cancer Center (21 trials)
• Stanford University School of Medicine (19 trials)
• Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (18 trials)
• VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto (18 trials)
• Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford (14 trials)

These facility names may represent distinct study locations or administrative listings within the Stanford and Palo Alto research network. When contacting a study team, confirm the exact location, visit schedule, transportation requirements, and whether the study is accepting new local participants.

New July studies include sleep apnea, cancer, cystic fibrosis, and overdose prevention

New openings cover aplastic anemia, astigmatism, bone marrow failure syndromes, cancer, cystic fibrosis, homelessness, myopia, obstructive sleep apnea, and opioid education and naloxone distribution. The study mix includes 2 behavioral trials, 2 device studies, 2 drug studies, 2 studies classified as other, plus one combination-product and one radiation study.

• NCT07679282 is a Phase 4 comparative study of positive airway pressure therapy, a dental device, and atomoxetine-oxybutynin for adults with obstructive sleep apnea. The study is sponsored by Sairam Parthasarathy and plans to enroll 2,400 participants.
• NCT07716202, sponsored by the VA Office of Research and Development, expands overdose education and naloxone distribution for homeless-experienced Veterans, including Veterans in supportive housing. Planned enrollment is 1,200 participants.
• NCT07690436 is an AstraZeneca pilot study using retinal fundus and OCT imaging to investigate ocular detection of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy in adults with confirmed disease or heart-failure controls. It plans to enroll 500 participants.
• NCT07708636, sponsored by Stanford University, evaluates whether cancer patients can safely and reliably receive proton radiation therapy while positioned upright. The study plans to enroll 450 participants.
• NCT07696338, sponsored by Nicole Hamblett, examines airway-clearance therapies for people with cystic fibrosis through parallel hypertonic saline and dornase alfa studies. Planned enrollment is 405 participants.
• NCT07740148 is a Stanford University online randomized study comparing immediate psychological responses to human-created and AI-generated art. It plans to enroll 4,500 U.S.-based adults recruited through Prolific.

Stanford University sponsors 3 of the new July trials, while the VA Office of Research and Development sponsors 2. Other sponsors include Dren Bio, Abeona Therapeutics, Sairam Parthasarathy, Nicole Hamblett, and AstraZeneca. By sponsor category, 5 studies are classified as other, 3 as industry-sponsored, and 2 as federally sponsored.

Eligibility signals for families, older adults, and healthy volunteers

Three new trials include children, and 8 include older adults. No new July study is limited to female participants or male participants. The single healthy-volunteer opening among July’s 10 new trials is especially relevant for people without the conditions studied in patient-focused research.

Families should review the pediatric eligibility details carefully because child participation may require age-specific consent, parental permission, and additional visits. Older adults have opportunities in most of the new-study eligibility mix, but each protocol may define age differently.

Other California cities to consider

People willing to travel can broaden their search beyond Palo Alto. Nearby California cities with recruiting trials include Los Angeles (25), San Francisco (22), San Diego (16), Duarte (10), La Jolla and Sacramento (8 each), Anaheim (7), and Stanford (7). Stanford’s separate listing may provide another search pathway for studies connected to the broader university research system.

Palo Alto’s large active portfolio and Stanford-centered network create continued opportunities through the rest of summer. As new studies open and current protocols approach enrollment limits, patients and healthy volunteers should monitor local listings and reach out early to determine which opportunities remain available.