Pick your area of care to narrow the list. Every study runs right here in Springfield, led by physicians you can meet.
Obesity
A 10-year registry tracking weight, metabolic health and quality of life after bariatric surgery.
Adults 18–65 scheduled for or recently completing sleeve gastrectomy
Obesity & type 2 diabetes
Evaluates whether adding GLP-1 medication after surgery improves long-term diabetes remission.
Adults with type 2 diabetes and BMI 35+ considering bariatric surgery
Non-small cell lung cancer
Tests a two-drug immunotherapy combination against the current single-agent standard of care.
Adults with stage III–IV NSCLC who have not started immunotherapy
Breast cancer
Compares a one-week targeted radiation schedule with the standard three-week course.
Enrollment complete — participants in scheduled follow-up
Atrial fibrillation
Studies a factor XI inhibitor designed to prevent stroke with lower bleeding risk than current options.
Adults 55+ with AFib currently taking a blood thinner
Heart failure
Follows patients using at-home sensors to catch fluid buildup before symptoms start.
Enrollment complete — data collection through 2027
Ulcerative colitis
A once-daily oral therapy aimed at keeping moderate-to-severe UC in remission without biologics.
Adults 18–75 with UC not fully controlled on current medication
Colorectal cancer screening
Validates a blood-based screening test against colonoscopy results in average-risk adults.
Study closed — participants receiving final results
Chronic migraine
Tests an every-three-months CGRP therapy for people with 15+ headache days per month.
Adults 18–65 with chronic migraine despite two prior preventives
Mild cognitive impairment
A long-term observational study tracking memory, biomarkers and daily function over five years.
Adults 60+ with mild memory concerns, plus a study partner
Wet AMD
A one-time gene therapy intended to reduce or replace monthly anti-VEGF eye injections.
Adults 50+ with wet AMD receiving regular injections
Diabetic macular edema
Uses advanced OCT imaging to predict which patients respond best to existing treatments.
Enrollment complete — imaging visits underway
Severe asthma
Evaluates a new once-daily triple-combination inhaler against standard dual therapy.
Adults 18+ with asthma symptoms despite daily controller use
Obstructive sleep apnea
Studies a nightly oral medication for people with moderate OSA who cannot tolerate CPAP.
Adults 21–70 with moderate OSA who stopped or declined CPAP
Join our research interest list and we’ll contact you about future studies that may be a match — new trials open every month.
Join the Interest ListResearchers determine if the study is a good fit based on your health, age and medical history.
You'll receive clear information about the study, including risks and benefits, and have time to ask questions before deciding.
Participants may be placed into different groups by chance to ensure fair and balanced results.
Researchers review results and continue monitoring your health after treatment.
You can leave a study at any time — for any reason.
Clinical trials are scientific studies that seek to answer important medical questions about new investigational treatments or existing ones. All clinical trials are performed according to strict rules set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies. These rules ensure everyone who volunteers as a study subject is informed thoroughly about the trial and treated with as much of a focus on safety and privacy as possible.
New therapies progress through the clinical research process in phases, and each phase answers a different question. PHASE I — Is the new treatment safe? Phase I trials test a new treatment on a limited number of healthy people (20–80) to determine basic safety. PHASE II — Is the new treatment effective against a specific health problem? Phase II studies test the treatment on a small patient population to determine effectiveness and the best clinical dose. PHASE III — Is the new treatment effective in a large patient population, and better than available standard treatments? Phase III studies test new treatments on a larger patient population to see if they work as well as current standards; these generally take many years to plan, perform, analyze and complete. PHASE IV — Is the new treatment safe, effective and affordable after approval? Phase IV studies perform post-marketing surveillance and cost-benefit analyses after FDA approval.
Participating as a clinical research subject offers a potential for unique and impactful benefits: subjects may have an opportunity to access innovative treatment options that are otherwise not yet available; subjects gain access to expert advice from specialized physicians; in many trials, subjects are compensated for travel and time during their participation; and subjects have an opportunity to contribute to medical technology and help develop future treatment options.
Clinical research is planned, approved by medical professionals and performed by highly-trained staff as safely and as carefully as possible. However, many investigative treatments are not yet approved by the FDA and may have a risk of known and unknown side effects. Research staff will fully explain all known risks to potential participants before they volunteer and enroll into a clinical trial.
The first clinical trial took place in 1747, when Dr. James Lind discovered that citrus fruits rich in vitamin C could prevent scurvy in sailors — an early step in advancing modern medicine. International Clinical Trials Day is celebrated every May 20th to mark the day his study began.
Our research coordinators can answer questions, check your eligibility, or add you to the interest list for upcoming trials — no commitment needed. Springfield Clinic Clinical Research, 900 North 1st Street, Springfield, IL.