Clinical trials digest (Oct 26, 2026): Remote-friendly studies and healthy-volunteer options
Here are 7 studies (in priority order) that may be easier to do from home or that welcome healthy volunteers. All details and the time/visit/compensation numbers are estimates based on public listings—always confirm with the study team.
Below is a simple, public-info roundup of clinical studies updated on October 26, 2026. Each section links to the official listing and a sign-up page. Estimates are not guaranteed and are based only on public details—ask the study team what would really apply to you.
Compensation ranges below are rough estimates for time burden only, not sponsor-provided offers.
1) Mobile app coaching to support physical activity in resource-limited neighborhoods
NCT ID: NCT03288207 | Source link
Status: Recruiting | Where: NIH Clinical Center (Bethesda, Maryland) with many parts likely done remotely
Who may fit: African American women ages 21–75 with overweight/obesity, living in Washington, D.C. Wards 5, 7, or 8 (or nearby Prince George’s County, MD), with a compatible smartphone. Healthy volunteers are accepted.
What it’s studying: Whether remote coaching that matches your neighborhood (like nearby walking options) can help increase daily steps compared with standard remote coaching.
What you may need to do
- Wear an activity tracker for a short “run-in” period to measure steps
- Use a phone app and join remote coaching (phone/video)
- Go to some in-person clinic visits for measurements
- Possible blood/other lab samples; some optional tests like MRI (a big magnet camera that takes pictures inside the body) or sleep monitoring
Estimated visits needed: About 4–12 visits (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated time commitment: About 11–62 total hours (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated compensation for time: About $500–$7,450 total (estimate; not guaranteed)
Contact: Marie Marah, R.N. (301) 640-1701, marie.marah@nih.gov; Tiffany M Powell-Wiley, M.D. (301) 496-5817, powelltm2@mail.nih.gov; NIH Office of Patient Recruitment: 800-411-1222, prpl@cc.nih.gov
2) Cranial electrotherapy device + group life coaching for healthcare worker burnout
NCT ID: NCT06977503 | Source link
Status: Recruiting | Where: Roswell Park Cancer Institute (Buffalo, New York) with virtual group sessions
Who may fit: Patient-facing healthcare workers ages 21–75 who are having burnout symptoms and can do daily device sessions plus scheduled group coaching. Healthy volunteers are accepted.
What it’s studying: Whether using a small device that clips to the earlobes (real vs “sham” device at different times) together with life coaching changes self-reported burnout and moral distress over time.
What you may need to do
- Attend in-person assessment appointments (the listing mentions three, about 1 hour each)
- Use the study device at home for about 1 hour a day, 5 days a week, for several weeks
- Join Zoom group life coaching sessions and watch short video assignments
- Fill out surveys about stress, burnout, and work experiences
Estimated visits needed: About 4–12 visits (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated time commitment: About 7–38 total hours (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated compensation for time: About $250–$3,225 total (estimate; not guaranteed)
Contact: Amy Gallagher, PsyD (716) 845-7399, Amy.Gallagher@roswellpark.org
3) Long-term follow-up after pediatric Cushing disease (including online survey)
NCT ID: NCT03831958 | Source link
Status: Recruiting | Where: NIH Clinical Center (Bethesda, Maryland); some parts can be online
Who may fit: People ages 10–42 who had Cushing disease diagnosed before age 21 and are now cured (normal/low cortisol). Some relatives of someone with Cushing disease may also join. Healthy volunteers are accepted (for family member participation).
What it’s studying: How having too much cortisol during childhood may affect health years later.
What you may need to do
- Complete an online survey about health and daily life
- If you travel for an NIH visit: physical exam and blood/cheek swab tests
- Possible imaging like DXA (bone scan) or MRI (depending on what the study team schedules)
- Some participants may do extra hormone or urine tests
Estimated visits needed: About 2–6 visits (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated time commitment: About 5–30 total hours (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated compensation for time: About $175–$2,550 total (estimate; not guaranteed)
Contact: Deborah P. Merke, M.D. (301) 496-0718, dmerke@nih.gov; NIH Office of Patient Recruitment: 800-411-1222, prpl@cc.nih.gov
4) Natural history study of propionic acidemia (PA), plus some healthy volunteers
NCT ID: NCT02890342 | Source link
Status: Recruiting | Where: NIH Clinical Center (Bethesda, Maryland) and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh; some telehealth options may be available
Who may fit: People age 2+ with propionic acidemia, and some unaffected family members. The listing also notes some healthy volunteers (about ages 12–40 with certain BMI rules) may be eligible for parts of the research.
What it’s studying: How PA affects the body over time, including genes, gut microbiome, and long-term complications.
What you may need to do
- Share medical history and outside medical records
- Give samples like blood and urine; possibly saliva or stool
- Keep a food diary and answer diet questions
- If doing an in-person visit, it may last several days and may include heart tests and imaging (only what the study team decides is needed)
Estimated visits needed: About 1 visit (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated time commitment: About 5–11 total hours (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated compensation for time: About $225–$1,325 total (estimate; not guaranteed)
Contact: Susan C. Ferry, R.N. (301) 496-6213, pastudy@mail.nih.gov; Charles P. Venditti, M.D. (301) 496-6213, venditti@mail.nih.gov; Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh: James Squires, MD, MS (412) 692-5180, james.squires2@chp.edu; NIH Office of Patient Recruitment: 800-411-1222, prpl@cc.nih.gov
5) Online study testing food labels for “ultra-processed” vs “not ultra-processed”
NCT ID: NCT07863570 | Source link
Status: Not yet recruiting | Where: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (listed location), but described as an online experiment
Who may fit: Adults 18+ living in the United States who are members of the CloudResearch Panel. Healthy volunteers are accepted.
What it’s studying: Whether different label styles change what products people say they would buy in a mock online “store shelf.”
What you may need to do
- Complete an online survey
- Look at product images with different labels
- Choose which product you would buy and answer questions about the labels
Estimated visits needed: Not stated clearly in the public summary; likely a single online session (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated time commitment: Not stated clearly in the public summary; likely under a few hours total (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated compensation for time: Not stated clearly in the public summary; may depend on the panel’s usual payments (estimate; not guaranteed)
Contact: Daphne A. Barquera Guevara, MD 443-965-6550, dbarque1@jh.edu; Julia A. Wolfson, PhD MPP 213-359-2915, jwolfso7@jhu.edu
6) MRI study of how joints and muscles move (Virtual Function Anatomy)
NCT ID: NCT00051857 | Source link
Status: Recruiting | Where: NIH Clinical Center (Bethesda, Maryland)
Who may fit: Ages 5–95, including healthy volunteers and people with certain joint or muscle problems, as long as MRI is safe for them.
What it’s studying: How bones, muscles, and tendons move during simple tasks (often focusing on joints like the knee) using MRI and sometimes ultrasound.
What you may need to do
- Do MRI scanning while you repeat small joint movements (like bending and straightening a knee)
- Possibly have ultrasound imaging
- Answer basic health questions and complete safety screening for MRI
Estimated visits needed: About 2–6 visits (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated time commitment: About 4–18 total hours (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated compensation for time: About $100–$1,075 total (estimate; not guaranteed)
Contact: Frances T. Gavelli, Ph.D. (301) 451-7585, gavellif@cc.nih.gov
7) Connect for Cancer Prevention (long-term health study in partner health systems)
NCT ID: NCT04609072 | Source link
Status: Recruiting | Where: Multiple U.S. health systems (you generally need to be a member/patient of a partner system)
Who may fit: Adults ages 30–70 who get care from a participating health system and do not have a history of invasive cancer (with some exceptions listed, like non-melanoma skin cancer). Healthy volunteers are accepted.
What it’s studying: How everyday life, health history, and biology relate to cancer risk over many years.
What you may need to do
- Sign up online and complete consent
- Fill out online health surveys a few times per year
- Give samples like blood, urine, and saliva every few years (details can vary)
- Let the study securely use your electronic health record information
Estimated visits needed: About 2–6 visits (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated time commitment: About 5–21 total hours (estimate; not guaranteed)
Estimated compensation for time: About $175–$1,775 total (estimate; not guaranteed)
Contact: Nicolas A. Wentzensen, M.D. (866) 462-6621, ConnectPI@nih.gov
Informational only, not medical advice.