Highlights

Hearing aids slow cognitive decline in people at high risk

Hearing aids cut the rate of cognitive decline by nearly half in older adults at high risk of dementia.

NIH clinical trial of tuberculous meningitis drug regimen begins

Six-month multidrug regimen being evaluated against standard treatment.

Groundbreaking Trial Results Expand Treatment Options for Some People with Bladder Cancer

For people with advanced bladder cancer, combining enfortumab (Padcev) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) should be the new standard initial treatment, new clinical trial results suggest.

Trial Confirms CAR T-Cell Therapy Benefits People with Aggressive Lymphomas

The CAR T-cell therapy axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta) improved survival for people with large B-cell lymphoma that was not responding to initial treatment or had relapsed quickly, according to new data from the ZUMA-7 trial.

Pragmatica-Lung Study, a streamlined model for future cancer clinical trials, begins enrolling patients

NCI has helped launch the Pragmatica-Lung Study, a phase 3 randomized clinical trial of a two-drug combination to treat patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The simplified trial design aims to increase accessibility for participants.

NIH study finds that immunotherapy substantially increases survival of people with lymphomatoid granulomatosis

Patients treated with interferon alfa-2b lived for decades after diagnosis in Phase 2 trial.

Antibody treatment protects adults against malaria

If confirmed in larger studies, this antibody-based approach could help block the spread of this life-threatening illness.

FORTE Colorectal Cancer Prevention Trial

The FORTE study will help determine the best timing for repeat colonoscopy after removal of 1 or 2 small polyps during a routine screening colonoscopy.

Shorter, More Intensive Radiation Safe after Surgery for Prostate Cancer

Many people with prostate cancer can safely receive a shorter, more intensive course of radiation therapy after surgery than has conventionally been used, a new study has found.

NIH launches clinical trial of three mRNA HIV vaccines

Phase 1 study is among first to examine mRNA technology for HIV.

NIH builds large nationwide study population of tens of thousands to support research on long-term effects of COVID-19

NIH launched the RECOVER Initiative to learn why some people have prolonged symptoms or develop new or returning symptoms after the acute phase of infection from SARS-CoV-2.

For Advanced Prostate Cancer, Radiopharmaceutical Improves Survival

A drug called 177Lu-PSMA-617 may be a new option for treating advanced prostate cancer. In a large clinical trial, adding the drug—a type of radiopharmaceutical—to standard treatments improved how long participants lived.

Clinical trial studies immunotherapy and radiation for pancreatic cancer

Adults with pancreatic cancer that cannot be cured by surgery may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial at the NIH Clinical Center.

Clinical trial of therapeutics for severely ill hospitalized COVID-19 patients begins

Patients with acute respiratory failure may now enroll in NIH-sponsored trial.

Large clinical trial to study repurposed drugs to treat COVID-19 symptoms

Using an ACTIV master protocol, the trial will focus on potential interventions for mild-to-moderate illness.

NIH observational study of coronavirus infection in children begins

Researchers will enroll at least 250 children and young adults ages 20 years or younger from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Two patient’s stomachs kept “alive” after removal in novel study to understand stomach cancer

Two women with genetic predisposition to stomach cancer participated in a clinical trial at the Center for Cancer Research where their stomachs were removed and kept alive for several days, allowing the researchers to study the development of cancer and the effects of different therapies in unprecedented detail. The goal is to better study stomach cancer under realistic conditions and find novel, effective treatments.

Ultimate Survivor Recalls CC Study 65 Years Ago

Several years past his WWII military service at Pearl Harbor, following a routine visit to the doctor, Leonard Gardner once again faced imminent mortality—but he didn’t know it until many months later.

NIH-funded study to recruit thousands of participants to reveal exercise impact at the molecular level

In the largest exercise research program of its kind, researchers are poised to turn data into comprehensive maps of the molecular changes in the body.

NIH clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine, a potential therapy for COVID-19, begins

A clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of adults hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has begun, with the first participants now enrolled in Tennessee.

Cancer Clinical Trials at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

The Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, is America’s largest hospital devoted entirely to research with people. Here, doctors and researchers seek new ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease.

New study delivers chemotherapy to the liver for metastatic colorectal cancer patients

Patients with previously treated colorectal cancer that has spread only to the liver may be eligible to participate in a new clinical trial at the NIH Clinical Center.

New clinical trial tests radiotracer for improved imaging of metastatic prostate cancer

Patients with relapsed or metastatic prostate cancer may be eligible to participate in a new clinical trial at the NIH Clinical Center.

New clinical trial will determine if gliomas respond to immunotherapy

A class of immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors is increasingly being used to treat a wide range of cancers, but they seem to be more effective in some patients more than others.

Results of trial to stem hospital-acquired bacterial infections published

NIH-sponsored ABATE study shows benefit for subset of hospitalized patients.

Ebola antibody treatment tested in people

A treatment for Ebola developed from a survivor’s protective antibody was found safe in a study of healthy volunteers at the NIH Clinical Center.

NIH researcher presents encouraging results for gene therapy for severe sickle cell disease

A first-in-human trial evaluating an experimental treatment for Ebola virus disease has begun at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

NIH begins testing Ebola treatment in early-stage trial

A first-in-human trial evaluating an experimental treatment for Ebola virus disease has begun at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Defeating a rare, aggressive form of skin cancer with avelumab

Mulcahy was diagnosed with merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in September of 2016. MCC is a rare, aggressive form of skin cancer in which merkel cells found in the top layer of skin grow out of control to form painless lumps.

Improving success of clinical trials for patients with Parkinson’s disease

NIH partnership is part of the Accelerating Medicines Partnership to speed development of disease-altering treatments.

Immunotherapy Clinical Trials: Sue Scott’s Story of Survival

A cancer survivor and a clinical researcher tell about taking part in an immunotherapy clinical trial at NCI's Center for Cancer Research.

Trial examines two types of digital mammography for breast cancer screening

The Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST), the first randomized trial to compare two types of digital mammography for breast cancer screening, is now open for enrollment.

Join a research study for adults with depression

A listing of clinical trials on depression recruiting adults.

Preventing HIV-Related Heart Disease

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases launched the REPRIEVE trial to determine whether a daily dose of a cholesterol-lowering statin can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in people living with HIV who would not normally be prescribed a statin.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

Join a research study to find out whether non-drug interventions can be effective for children who are very irritable.

Watch Discovery’s 3-part documentary First in Human

Discovery documentary First in Human gives an up-close look at how advances in medicine are made at the NIH Clinical Center.

NIH begins study of vaccine to protect against mosquito-borne diseases

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has launched a Phase 1 clinical trial to test an investigational vaccine intended to provide broad protection against a range of mosquito-transmitted diseases, such as Zika, malaria, West Nile fever and dengue fever, and to hinder the ability of mosquitoes to transmit such infections.

Rare Disease Day at NIH — Feb. 27, 2017

More than 6,500 rare diseases affect humans, of which only a few hundred have any treatment. In total these illnesses affect an estimated 25 million people in the United States.

Infographic: Why do researchers do different kinds of clinical studies?

This one-page guide describes different kinds of clinical studies. It explains why researchers might use them and highlights each type’s strengths and weaknesses.

What is Clinical Research?

Clinical research occurs in many formats and can involve anyone. Learn how you can participate and contribute to medical advances.​

John’s Story: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Ever since being diagnosed in January of ’14, I kind of made it a mission of mine to find out as much as I can, what’s available out there as treatments, trials, and just my way of giving back, whether it helps me directly or somebody who comes after me.

Searching for Clues to Autism

NIH clinical research looks for links between conditions during pregnancy and risk of autism.

How Study Partners are Vital to Alzheimer’s Research

Dr. Madhav Thambisetty of the National Institute on Aging at NIH discusses the role of study partners in Alzheimer's disease clinical trials. A study partner relates her experience in an Alzheimer's trial.

How a Mom, a Scientist, and NICHD Joined to Fight a Rare Disease

Read how one mother's struggle to get help for her daughter led her to a community of rare disease researchers.

Taking a swing at Alzheimer’s disease

Ollie Doolittle helps researchers learn more about the aging brain.

Kayla’s Story: A Bright Future Through NIH Research

NOMID, or neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease, is a rare disease that is often fatal.

Working to Prevent Breast Cancer

Breast cancer takes a tremendous toll on women and men, as well as their families and communities.

Reducing the Burden of Hepatitis

An estimated 4.4 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis; most do not know they are infected.

National HIV Testing Day

Although progress has been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the epidemic continues to wreak havoc.

Helping People Breathe Easier

Researchers are making progress in increasing our understanding of asthma through clinical research.

You Can Help Stop TB

TB remains one of the deadliest infections in the world, particularly in regions with a large presence of HIV.

Volunteer to Help End HIV/AIDS

Getting to zero: zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related deaths.

Seeking Volunteers for this Flu Season

Help researchers find new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat influenza.

Helping Kids with Severe Eczema

NIH researchers combine wet wraps and education to treat this chronic skin disorder.

Guiding Principles for Ethical Research

Researchers can take precautions to protect participants in research studies.

Taking the Bite Out of Food Allergy

Volunteers can help NIH researchers understand how the immune system contributes to food allergy.

Research in Action

Paralyzed by stroke, patient advances science by using brain power and computers to control movement.

National Database for Autism Research

Learn from parents how clinical research is improving treatments.

HBO Series Spotlights Obesity Research

Meet volunteers in several research studies in this provocative four-part series on obesity.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Study shows lasting improvement in vision with long-term use of Avastin and Lucentis.

Thinking Globally, Acting Locally Against Malaria

Healthy volunteers help NIH researchers pursue an effective malaria vaccine.

NIH RAMPART Study

Patient volunteers play an essential role in improving the way paramedics treat life-threatening seizures.

GuLF Study

Gulf cleanup workers help NIH examine potential health effects of oil spill.

Stuttering

Learn how the King's (George VI) speech begins a story about current research and discovery about stuttering.

This page last reviewed on January 12, 2024