Contents
- 1 Research For Compensation in Colorado
- 2 Demographic Data Reveals Availability in Colorado
- 3 Interpreting Colorado Demographic Information to Identify Paid Trials
- 4 Colorado CROs Healthy Participants Might Explore For Opportunities
- 5 Medical Trends in Colorado That Impact Science
- 6 Colorado Paid Clinical Trial FAQs
- 7 Colorado CRO Trial Opportunities For Healthy Volunteers to Consider
Research For Compensation in Colorado
Colorado’s research is concentrated on one large campus and growing fast. As of July 2026, 1,767 studies are actively recruiting in the state, according to ClinicalTrials.gov, with the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children’s Hospital Colorado accounting for the largest share.
For example, if you’ve got a decent job, but you need a little extra cash on the back-end, you might look into Clinical Research Organizations, or CROs. CROs provide paid clinical trials for healthy volunteers nearby throughout the state; though, admittedly, mostly along the Front Range. (For those unfamiliar, that’s essentially communities along I-25 as it stretches north to south).
When you parse the data, this indicates at any given time there are approximately 143 individual opportunities per CRO, or 29,613 total opportunities in the state. Keep in mind, most studies require multiple “groups” in order to determine results. Usually, there’s a test group and a control group. So each study in the state will commonly have multiple opportunities.
Quick Facts: Paid Clinical Trials in Colorado
- Actively recruiting studies (July 2026): 1,767 (ClinicalTrials.gov)
- Main hub: the CU Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, shared by the university, UCHealth, and Children’s Hospital Colorado
- Typical compensation: $50–$100 per completed outpatient visit; residential Phase 1 studies pay more (see highest paid clinical trials)
- Cost to participate: $0 — study care and visits are covered by the sponsor
- Worth knowing: the state’s biggest research campus is in Aurora, not Denver — search both when looking locally
What’s being studied in Colorado right now
We sampled 1,000 recruiting Colorado studies on ClinicalTrials.gov in July 2026. The most active sites and most-studied conditions:
| Most active research sites | Most-studied conditions |
|---|---|
| Children’s Hospital Colorado (94 listings) | Breast cancer |
| CU Anschutz and University of Colorado (145 across listings) | Colorectal cancer |
| UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (64) | Multiple myeloma |
| Colorado Blood Cancer Institute, Denver (41) | Melanoma |
| Penrose-St. Francis, Colorado Springs (28) | Advanced solid tumors |
Children’s Hospital Colorado is the single most active trial site in the state, which makes Colorado unusually strong for pediatric research. Note that the Anschutz campus is in Aurora rather than Denver, so searching both cities matters — see our Denver page for metro-specific listings.
2026 Colorado Research Updates
- Bayer alliance, July 2026: CU Anschutz, UCHealth, and Children’s Hospital Colorado formed a strategic clinical trials alliance with Bayer — the company’s first of its kind with an academic medical center. Initial focus areas include oncology, cardiovascular and kidney disease, neurodegenerative disease, cell and gene therapy, women’s health, and ophthalmology.
- Parkinson’s cell therapy trial: UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital was selected as a Phase 3 site for an investigational cellular therapy for advanced Parkinson’s disease.
- New clinical trials office: CU Anschutz launched a dedicated Office of Clinical Trials in May 2026 to expand the number of studies running on campus.
- 1,767 studies are recruiting statewide as of July 2026, per ClinicalTrials.gov.
Demographic Data Reveals Availability in Colorado
Narrowing down opportunities in your particular area of the state will in part depend on local demographic statistics. There are paid clinical trials nearby for healthy volunteers which may be centered on one particular group or another. For Colorado, whites are 81.52% of the population (ethnically, Hispanics are included in that stat), two or more races make up 5.93% of the population, and blacks or those of African descent occupy approximately 4.15% of the population. The average age in Colorado is 36.9. 49.65% of the population is female, and 50.35% of the population is male.
Interpreting Colorado Demographic Information to Identify Paid Trials
Here’s what the data indicate regarding paid clinical trials for healthy volunteers: most opportunities will be for adult males in their late thirties, followed closely by adult females in a similar demographic. Keep in mind, diversity helps produce better results for most experiments, so the majority of studies will be searching for individuals from a variety of backgrounds. Some studies can’t do that, many will have to.
Click here for Colorado clinical trials in Denver.
Colorado CROs Healthy Participants Might Explore For Opportunities
In order to help you find healthy volunteer paid clinical trials, the following are three CROs from around the state you might consider to help you narrow down your search, or find an opportunity near you:
- Molecular Targeting Technologies in the Northwest
- Nextgen Pharma in the South of the State
- CARE Research in the North of the State
Medical Trends in Colorado That Impact Science
There are a lot of historical contributions to medical science rooted in Colorado. You could be involved in health discoveries or innovations such as the following:
- Relief From Diabetes Through the “Gilded Pill”
- Combining Tech and Medical Sciences for Ongoing Breakthroughs
- Breakthroughs Through University of Colorado Medical Center Research Divisions
Colorado Paid Clinical Trial FAQs
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How much do paid clinical trials pay here?
Most outpatient studies pay $50–$100 per completed visit, plus travel reimbursement. Residential Phase 1 studies pay considerably more. The exact amount appears in the consent form before you enroll.
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Where are most clinical trials in Colorado?
The CU Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora holds the largest concentration, shared by the University of Colorado, UCHealth, and Children’s Hospital Colorado. Denver adds specialty centers including National Jewish Health and the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute, and Colorado Springs has options through Penrose-St. Francis. See our Denver page for city listings.
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Can my child participate in a study in Colorado?
Yes, with parental consent. Children’s Hospital Colorado runs more trials than any other site in the state, covering many pediatric specialties. Children old enough to understand also give their own assent, and studies compensate families for time and travel.
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Do I need to live near Aurora to take part?
Not necessarily. UCHealth operates hospitals across the Front Range and some studies enroll at multiple sites, while others include remote visits. Ask the study coordinator which locations are participating and what travel support is offered.
Colorado CRO Trial Opportunities For Healthy Volunteers to Consider
Colorado is a very popular state, and for decades it has been a leader in medical innovation. If you’re looking for income supplementation that contributes to society, and history in general, working with Colorado CROs could be the way to go for you.