Paid Clinical Trials in Missouri

Candace Kastanis

Written by Candace Kastanis

Chemistry B.S. | UC Davis | Clinical Lab Technician

Updated & Fact Checked 7/25/26

Quick Facts: Paid Clinical Trials in Missouri

  • Actively recruiting studies (July 2026): 1,865 (ClinicalTrials.gov)
  • 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: Kansas City residents should search both Missouri and Kansas — the metro’s largest research sites span the state line

What’s being studied in Missouri right now

We sampled recruiting Missouri studies on ClinicalTrials.gov in July 2026. The most active sites and most-studied conditions:

Most active research sitesMost-studied conditions
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (288 site listings)Breast and prostate cancer
Siteman Cancer Center network (159 across three locations)Obesity
University of Missouri, ColumbiaHeart failure
Kansas City area sitesMultiple myeloma and leukemias

Missouri research concentrates heavily in St. Louis. If you live in Kansas City, note that many metro-area trials run on the Kansas side of the state line, so it is worth searching both states.

Finding Trials For Healthy Volunteers in Missouri

A lot of residents may not realize it, but there are ample opportunities in clinical research for paid clinical trials throughout Missouri. You can participate in important clinical research for money, help supplement your existing income, and play a real part in medical breakthroughs that could bring relief throughout the world. Our website provides regularly-updated data on available clinical studies across the state. There are quite a few to choose from; over a thousand of which are in Missouri. 

As of July 2026, 1,865 studies are actively recruiting volunteers in Missouri, according to ClinicalTrials.gov. Washington University in St. Louis anchors the state’s research activity, with the Siteman Cancer Center network extending trials into community hospitals across the metro area.

Where Clinical Research Opportunities Are Growing

An indicator of the sort of CROs, or Clinical Research Organizations, that are conducting paid studies will in some ways be related to Missouri’s demographics. Age and ethnic background play a part in which studies are locally produced. To determine what clinical trial sponsors are most likely to have local studies, you need to know the state’s demographic makeup.

In Missouri, the 2020 census revealed Caucasians make up 61.6% of the population, with black communities comprising 12.4%, Hispanics at 18.7%, and Asians at 6%. Additional stats from ACL.gov (available in this .PDF) indicate that since 2010, over a third of the population is older than 50, more than 20% are over 60, 1 in 10 are over 70, and around 4% are over 80. Since over half the population has surpassed the age of fifty, you can expect many clinical trial sponsors to seek participants who fit this demographic.

We have compiled the following list of paid clinical trials for healthy volunteers, and click the Search All button at the bottom to find more:

Follow-up Visit of High Risk Infants
Recruiting
The NICHD Neonatal Research Network's Follow-Up study is a multi-center cohort in which surviving extremely low birth-weight infants born in participating network centers receive neurodevelopmental, neurosensory and functional assessments at 22-26 months corrected age (Infants born prior to July 1, 2012 were seen at 18-22 months corrected age). Data regarding pregnancy and neonatal outcome are collected prospectively. The goal is to identify potential maternal and neonatal risk factors that may... Read More
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
Between 18 months and 26 months
Trial Updated:
02/11/2025
Locations: Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri
Conditions: Infant, Newborn, Infant, Low Birth Weight, Infant, Small for Gestational Age, Infant, Premature
Consent for Use of Stored Patient Specimens for Future Testing
Recruiting
The purpose of this study is to obtain informed consent to use stored human biological materials (HBM) (e.g., blood and other tissues) for future studies that may include genetic testing.
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
All
Trial Updated:
09/20/2024
Locations: Washington Univ / St Louis Connect Care, Saint Louis, Missouri +1 locations
Conditions: HIV Infections
A Prospective Database of Infants With Cholestasis
Recruiting
Biliary atresia, idiopathic neonatal hepatitis, and specific genetic cholestatic conditions are the most common causes of jaundice and hyperbilirubinemia that continue beyond the newborn period. The long term goal of the Childhood Liver Disease Research Network (ChiLDReN) is to establish a database of clinical information and plasma, serum, and tissue samples from cholestatic children to facilitate research and to perform clinical, epidemiological and therapeutic trials in these important pediat... Read More
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
6 months and below
Trial Updated:
05/19/2025
Locations: Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
Conditions: Biliary Atresia, Neonatal Cholestasis
Generic Database of Very Low Birth Weight Infants
Recruiting
The Generic Database (GDB) is a registry of very low birth weight infants born alive in NICHD Neonatal Research Network (NRN) centers. The GDB collects observational baseline data on both mothers and infants, and the therapies used and outcomes of the infants. The information collected is not specific to a disease or treatment (i.e., it is "generic"). Data are analyzed to find associations and trends between baseline information, treatments, and infant outcome, and to develop future NRN trials.
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
14 days and below
Trial Updated:
02/11/2025
Locations: Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri
Conditions: Infant, Newborn, Infant, Low Birth Weight, Infant, Small for Gestational Age, Infant, Premature
TrialNet Pathway to Prevention of T1D
Recruiting
Rationale: The accrual of data from the laboratory and from epidemiologic and prevention trials has improved the understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Genetic and immunologic factors play a key role in the development of T1DM, and characterization of the early metabolic abnormalities in T1DM is steadily increasing. However, information regarding the natural history of T1DM remains incomplete. The TrialNet Natural History Study of the Development of T... Read More
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
Between 2 years and 45 years
Trial Updated:
06/30/2025
Locations: The Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri
Conditions: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
Mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I) Registry
Recruiting
The Mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I) Registry is an ongoing, observational database that tracks the outcomes of patients with MPS I. The data collected by the MPS I Registry will provide information to better characterize the natural history and progression of MPS I as well as the clinical responses of patients receiving enzyme replacement therapy, such as Aldurazyme (Recombinant Human Alpha-L-Iduronidase), or other treatment modalities. The objectives of the Registry are: * To evaluate the lon... Read More
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
All
Trial Updated:
11/19/2024
Locations: Washington University of St. Louis- Site Number : 840100, Saint Louis, Missouri
Conditions: Mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I)
Fabry Disease Registry & Pregnancy Sub-registry
Recruiting
The Fabry Registry is an ongoing, international multi-center, strictly observational program that tracks the routine clinical outcomes for patients with Fabry disease, irrespective of treatment status. No experimental intervention is involved; patients in the Registry undergo clinical assessments and receive care as determined by the patient's treating physician. The primary objectives of the Registry are: * To enhance the understanding of the variability, progression, and natural history of F... Read More
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
All
Trial Updated:
08/07/2025
Locations: University of Missouri Health System Department of Genetics- Site Number : 840031, Columibia, Missouri +1 locations
Conditions: Fabry Disease
Pompe Disease Registry Protocol
Recruiting
The Pompe Registry is a global, multicenter, international, longitudinal, observational, and voluntary program for patients with Pompe disease, designed to track the disease's natural history and outcomes in patients, both treated and not. Data from the Registry are also used to fulfill various global regulatory commitments, to support product development/reimbursement, and for other research and non-research related purposes. The objectives of the Registry are: * To enhance understanding of t... Read More
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
All
Trial Updated:
08/06/2025
Locations: University of Missouri Health System Department of Genetics- Site Number : 840031, Columbia, Missouri +2 locations
Conditions: Glycogen Storage Disease Type II, Pompe Disease
Product Performance Report: Evaluate Long-term Reliability & Performance of Medtronic Marketed Cardiac Therapy Products
Recruiting
The main purpose of the Product Performance Report (formerly referred to as System Longevity Study) is to evaluate long-term performance of Medtronic market-released cardiac rhythm products by analyzing product survival probabilities.
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
All
Trial Updated:
07/29/2025
Locations: Not set, Columbia, Missouri +2 locations
Conditions: Arrhythmia, Bradycardia, Heart Failure, Sinus Tachycardia
Genetic Determinants of Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
Recruiting
The overall objectives of this BETRNet Research Center (RC) are: 1. to conduct a rigorous, integrated spectrum of transdisciplinary human research in Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (ECA) 2. to increase the biological understanding of key observations made by our clinical researchers; 3. to translate knowledge derived from genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptome research to solving clinical dilemmas in detection, prognosis, prevention, and therapy of BE in order to prevent... Read More
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
18 years and above
Trial Updated:
07/16/2025
Locations: Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
Conditions: Barrett's Esophagus, Esophageal Neoplasm


A Maturing Population

With an elderly population primarily Caucasian, the preponderance of medical research will involve conditions related to aging and ethnically-centered medical issues. Paid research will require healthy volunteers among the 60%+ of the population that is more mature, which is good news regarding income supplementation.

Many seniors are on a fixed income. With medical research studies, they can take full advantage of opportunities in paid clinical trials for healthy volunteers. They can help advance medicine and expand their own resources simultaneously.


Missouri CROs Seeking Healthy Volunteers for Progressing Clinical Research

All these things are good in theory, but where can you start looking for such opportunities? Here is a link to healthcare providers and CROs who may have just the opportunities you’re looking for; these include, among others:


Considerable Medical Breakthroughs in Missouri

Already in Missouri, quite a few different medical discoveries have been made. Consider these:


Missouri Paid Clinical Trial FAQs

  • How much do paid clinical trials pay in Missouri?

    Most outpatient studies in Missouri pay $50–$100 per completed visit, plus travel reimbursement. Compensation reflects the time a study demands rather than its risk. The exact amount appears in the consent form before you enroll.

  • Where are most clinical trials in Missouri?

    St. Louis dominates, led by Washington University School of Medicine and the Siteman Cancer Center network at BJC hospitals. Columbia and Kansas City follow. See our pages for St. Louis and Kansas City.

  • I live in Kansas City — should I only look at Missouri trials?

    No. The Kansas City metro spans two states, and the University of Kansas Medical Center, one of the region’s largest research sites, sits on the Kansas side. Search both states to see everything within driving distance.

Taking Advantage of Missouri’s Opportunities in Paid Clinical Trials

The bottom line of paid clinical trial opportunities in Missouri is this: there are diverse opportunities to explore throughout the state. If you’ve got the time and inclination, there’s a trial waiting for you somewhere. For trials that could be closer to you in the state of Missouri, review our listing pages for Kansas City and St. Louis.