Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NIH registry) Updated weekly IRB-supervised studies only
Home/CA/San Diego
Updated July 2026 from ClinicalTrials.gov

Paid Clinical Trials in San Diego, CA

Studies commonly pay $75 to $4,500 per completed study

1,331 clinical trials are currently recruiting participants within 30 miles of San Diego. Listings below come straight from the official NIH registry, alongside the area's top-rated research centers with real Google reviews.

1,331studies recruiting
9+research centers nearby
6condition categories
Live from the NIH registry

Studies recruiting near San Diego right now

Top 25 of 1,331 recruiting studies, sorted by proximity — each links to its official registry page

Phase 3 Study of RLY-2608 + Fulvestrant vs Capivasertib + Fulvestrant as Treatment for Locally Advanced or Metastatic PIK3CA-mutant HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer

PIK3CA Mutation, HER2- Negative Breast Cancer Phase 3 Interventional 540 participants sought
University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center — San Diego, California (8.4 mi) · Sponsor: Relay Therapeutics, Inc.
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06982521)

Targeting Minority Stressors to Improve Eating Disorder Symptoms in Sexual Minority Individuals With Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders, Sexual Minorities Phase 1 Interventional 30 participants sought
San Diego State University — San Diego, California (8.4 mi) · Sponsor: Auburn University
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06565637)

Androgen Effects on the Reproductive Neuroendocrine Axis, 2025 Version

Transgenderism, Reproductive Issues Phase 4 Interventional 80 participants sought
University of California, San Diego — San Diego, California (8.4 mi) · Sponsor: University of California, San Diego
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07092527)

A Study of Vedolizumab in Children With Ulcerative Colitis (UC) or Crohn's Disease (CD)

Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease Phase 3 Interventional 240 participants sought
Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego - PIN — San Diego, California (8.4 mi) · Sponsor: Takeda
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05442567)

Radicle GI Health DBG: A Study Assessing the Impact of Health and Wellness Products on GI Health and Related Health Outcomes

Belly Pain, GI Health N/A Interventional 825 participants sought
Radicle Science Inc. — Del Mar, California (12.1 mi) · Sponsor: Radicle Science
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07318077)

Testing What Happens When an Immunotherapy Drug (Pembrolizumab) is Given by Itself Compared to the Usual Treatment of Chemotherapy With Radiation After Surgery for Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Recurrent Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Phase 2 Interventional 188 participants sought
California Protons Cancer Therapy Center — San Diego, California (8.4 mi) · Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04671667)

Enhancing Team Effectiveness for a Collaborative School-based Intervention for ADHD

Team-effectiveness Research, School-based Interventions N/A Interventional 144 participants sought
IN STEP Children's Mental Health Center — San Diego, California (8.4 mi) · Sponsor: University of California, San Diego
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06180681)

Phase 3 Pivotal Trial Comparing CARTISTEM® and Surgical Comparator for Knee Cartilage Lesions and Osteoarthritis

Knee Cartilage Defects Phase 3 Interventional 300 participants sought
Horizon Clinical Research — La Mesa, California (7.2 mi) · Sponsor: Medipost, Inc.
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07339111)

A Research Study Comparing How Well Different Doses of the Medicine NNC0662-0419 Lower Blood Sugar in People With Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Phase 2 Interventional 270 participants sought
Wetlin Research Associates, Inc. — San Diego, California (8.4 mi) · Sponsor: Novo Nordisk A/S
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07415954)

Acoramidis Transthyretin Amyloidosis Prevention Trial in the Young (ACT-EARLY) Study in Asymptomatic Carriers of a Pathogenic TTR Variant

Amyloidosis, Amyloid Cardiomyopathy Phase 3 Interventional 587 participants sought
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) - Medical Center — La Jolla, California (8.9 mi) · Sponsor: Eidos Therapeutics, a BridgeBio company
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06563895)

Phase 2 Trial of Icovamenib in Participants With Type 2 Diabetes Who Are Not Achieving Glycemic Targets

Type 2 Diabetes Phase 2 Interventional 60 participants sought
Paradigm Clinical Research Centers, LLC — San Diego, California (8.4 mi) · Sponsor: Biomea Fusion Inc.
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07502495)

XVIVO Heart Box (XHB) With Supplemented XVIVO Heart Solution (SXHS) Continued Access Protocol (CAP)

Heart Transplant, Heart Failure N/A Interventional 60 participants sought
UC San Diego Health — La Jolla, California (8.9 mi) · Sponsor: XVIVO Perfusion
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06895070)

Phase 1/2 Study of PYX-201 in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Advanced Solid Tumors

Advanced Solid Tumors Phase 1, Phase 2 Interventional 220 participants sought
University of California San Diego — San Diego, California (8.4 mi) · Sponsor: Pyxis Oncology, Inc
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06795412)

A Study Comparing AZD0120, a Dual-targeted CAR-T Against B-cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) and CD19, Versus Standard Regimens in Participants With Relapsed Refractory Multiple Myeloma (DURGA-4)

Relapsed Refractory Multiple Myeloma Phase 3 Interventional 508 participants sought
Research Site — La Jolla, California (8.9 mi) · Sponsor: AstraZeneca
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07391657)

Maintenance rTMS for Depression (Maitr-De)

Major Depressive Disorder, Treatment Resistant Depression N/A Interventional 75 participants sought
University of California, San Diego — San Diego, California (8.4 mi) · Sponsor: University of California, San Diego
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06938841)

A Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Light Dose in Subjects With PWB Treated With Hemoporfin PDT

Port-wine Birthmarks, Port-Wine Stain Phase 2 Interventional 84 participants sought
Dermatology Cosmetic Associates of La Jolla, Inc. d/b/a West Dermatology Research Center — San Diego, California (8.4 mi) · Sponsor: Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05171894)

A Phase 1 Clinical Study of NXP900 in Subjects With Advanced Cancers

Advanced Solid Tumor, NSCLC (Non-small Cell Lung Cancer) Phase 1 Interventional 140 participants sought
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center — La Jolla, California (8.9 mi) · Sponsor: Nuvectis Pharma, Inc.
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05873686)

Women SHINE: Addressing Syndemics and HIV Among Women Through Tech-Based Peer Engagement

HIV/AIDS N/A Interventional 360 participants sought
The Regents of the Univ. of Calif., U.C. San Diego — La Jolla, California (8.9 mi) · Sponsor: University of California, San Diego
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05509959)

A Study of Eltrekibart and Mirikizumab in Adult Patients With Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis, Ulcerative Colitis Chronic Phase 2 Interventional 140 participants sought
Southern California GI and Liver Centers (SCLC) — Coronado, California (10.7 mi) · Sponsor: Eli Lilly and Company
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06598943)

A Study of Bispecific Antibody MCLA-158 in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

Advanced/Metastatic Solid Tumors, Colorectal Cancer Phase 1, Phase 2 Interventional 523 participants sought
Sharp Healthcare — San Diego, California (8.4 mi) · Sponsor: Merus B.V.
See eligibility & contact on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03526835)
Google-rated

Top-rated research centers in San Diego

Dedicated clinical research sites near you — with their real Google ratings, reviews and contact details

Artemis Institute for Clinical Research

★ 4.8
3870 Murphy Canyon Rd Ste 200, San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 278-3647
"The Staff is amazing!! Every person I have worked with there has been very professional and helpful. The location is great. I highly recommend them."
— William Rodriguez, 5★

California Research Foundation

★ 4.3
9444 Farnham St #200, San Diego, CA 92123
(619) 291-2321
"This is a very clean, quiet, and professional environment. I have done clinical trials in the past and feel like I am just a number. From the time I …"
— John McMann, 5★

M3 Wake Research San Diego - Convoy

★ 4.1
3709 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 505-8672
"They were very professional. Answered all my questions; some of a delicate nature. The doctor was very helpful. I would recommend this study for wom…"
— Rose Garay, 5★

Paradigm Clinical Research

★ 4.4
9095 Rio San Diego Dr Ste 400, San Diego, CA 92108
(858) 274-4226
"Best clinical research trial I’ve joined so far. Staff is really friendly and professional. Was paid right away after every visit. Very well run plac…"
— Khem See, 5★

Velocity Clinical Research

★ 3.1
8881 Fletcher Pkwy Ste 300, La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 567-1550
"I am disappointed with my experience at Velocity Research’s La Mesa location. The information on the company’s website appears to be incorrect or mis…"
— Geo, 1★

University Clinical Trials

7695 Cardinal Ct #200, San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 278-8470

Synergy Research Centers

★ 3.9
7922 Palm St, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
(619) 303-6130
"I love the staff they are super nice...."
— Jasmin Mendez, 5★

Apex Clinical Research

★ 5.0
5555 Reservoir Dr #209, San Diego, CA 92120
(619) 582-5564
"The staff are very knowledgeable and friendly i would definitely recommend"
— Travis Barnes, 5★

Horizon Clinical Research

★ 4.6
Suite 259, 5565 Grossmont Center Dr Bldg 3, La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 456-6012
"The research team, from support staff to doctors, are incredibly kind and helpful. It is clear that they are driving to the solution and a better qua…"
— John C Edmonston, 5★

Clinical trials in San Diego: what's recruiting

The San Diego area currently has 1,331 studies open to new participants, according to the ClinicalTrials.gov registry maintained by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Among the studies closest to San Diego, the most active research areas are:

  • Cancer & Oncology7 studies
  • Liver & Kidney2 studies
  • Immune & Skin2 studies
  • Diabetes & Metabolism2 studies
  • Heart & Vascular2 studies

Every listing shows the study phase, the recruiting site and its distance from San Diego, and links to the official registry page where eligibility criteria and study contacts are published. Compensation is set by each sponsor: industry surveys report typical payments of $75 to $4,500 per completed study, with short observational studies at the low end and multi-visit or overnight Phase 1 studies at the high end.

How to enroll in a paid study in San Diego

Start with a study whose condition matches your profile — or a healthy-volunteer study if you have no diagnosis. Contact the research site through the registry page, complete a short phone screen, then attend an in-person screening visit. If you qualify, the study team walks you through the informed consent document, which details every procedure, risk and payment before you commit. You can withdraw at any point, and enrollment is always free.

San Diego participants can also register with the dedicated research centers listed above — many maintain volunteer databases and call when a matching study opens — or sign up for our email alert below to hear when a new study starts recruiting within 30 miles of your ZIP code.

Frequently asked questions

How much do paid clinical trials in San Diego pay?
Compensation varies by study length, procedures and overnight stays. Industry surveys report typical payments from $75 to $4,500 per completed study, with simple observational studies at the low end and multi-week inpatient Phase 1 studies at the high end. Each listing's study team will confirm the exact amount before you enroll.
Do I need to be sick to join a clinical trial in San Diego?
No. Many studies recruit healthy volunteers, especially early-phase studies run at dedicated research centers. Others need participants diagnosed with a specific condition. Every trial lists its eligibility criteria — age range, condition, medications — and the study team screens you before enrollment.
How do I join a study in San Diego, CA?
Pick a study that matches your profile, contact the research site (or apply through the study links on this page), pass a phone pre-screen, then attend an in-person screening visit. If you qualify, you review and sign the informed consent and the study begins. The process typically takes 1-3 weeks.
Is compensation for clinical trials taxable?
In the U.S., clinical trial compensation is generally considered taxable income, and research sites may issue a 1099 form for payments above $600 in a year. Reimbursements for travel or meals are typically treated differently. Consult a tax professional for your situation.
What is the difference between a research center and a hospital study in San Diego?
Dedicated research centers (listed on this page with their Google ratings) run studies as their core business — often healthy-volunteer and vaccine studies with structured compensation. Hospital and university studies tend to focus on patients with specific conditions. Both types are registered and IRB-supervised.

Paid clinical trials near San Diego

Other metros within reach

Chula Vista, CA1,251 Escondido, CA1,285 Oceanside, CA706 Hemet, CA340 Mission Viejo, CA1,371 Irvine, CA1,507 Moreno Valley, CA438 Corona, CA1,557

More of CA

Long Beach3,341 Torrance3,236 Fullerton3,223 Anaheim3,155 Garden Grove3,152 Pomona3,119 Glendale2,957 Los Angeles2,943 Huntington Beach2,841 Santa Clarita2,395 Hayward2,256 Oakland2,249

New paid studies open every week

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